The so-called “business trip” to Singapore.
Charged to my corporate account.
I leaned back in my chair and let out a quiet breath.
A faint smile crossed my lips—not from joy, not from satisfaction.
From understanding.
They had built their world on something soft, something emotional, something they thought I would never question.
A lie.
And I was about to answer it with something far more solid.
Truth.
Legal, documented, undeniable truth.
At exactly 9:17 p.m., I picked up my phone and called my lawyer.
He answered on the second ring.
“Ethan Blake speaking.”
“I need to sell a property,” I said calmly. “Immediately.”
There was a pause.
“The Malibu property?” he asked carefully.
“Yes.”
Another pause—longer this time.
“Olivia… that’s not something that happens overnight. There are—”
“No,” I cut in, my voice still calm, but sharper now. “It is something that’s going to happen overnight.”
Silence.
Then, more quietly, “How urgent?”
I reached for my phone and pulled up the photo again.
Daniel, smiling like nothing in the world could touch him.
Chloe, leaning into him, her hand resting lightly on his chest.
And my mother-in-law in the background, looking proud.
Proud.
I stared at it for a moment longer.