Chapter 3

Northbridge Investments sent its notice to Conrad's company at noon that day.

He did not contact me.

It had probably never occurred to him that an investment firm's decision might have anything to do with the wife who had been gone for a few days.

That afternoon, Phoebe published a long post.

She wrote that she had grown up in a home where every gift came with a condition and every act of care could be turned into a bill during an argument.

She did not mention who had made those 156 deposits.

She did not mention that Conrad had authorized her to transfer the money to Vera.

Her final line read: Real maternal love should never demand that a child repay it with a title or a choice.

Vera shared the post.

She added: A child has finally found the courage to speak her truth. I only hope she will be free to love her birth mother from now on.

Conrad liked it.

In the comments, people accused me of being jealous of her birth mother. They said a stepmother should never try to replace blood. Others demanded that I restore Phoebe's college fund immediately.

I saved screenshots of everything and closed the page.

That afternoon, I met with a divorce attorney.

After reviewing my marriage certificate, property documents, and Phoebe's guardianship records, the attorney asked whether I had ever legally adopted her.

"No. Conrad said a real family did not need a piece of paper."

The attorney paused.

"That means you have no legal custody rights and no obligation to continue paying for her education."

Thirteen years of breakfasts, parent-teacher conferences, hospital corridors, and sleepless nights had become four words in the eyes of the law.

No legal obligation.

I thought it would hurt.

But seeing it written down only made everything clearer.

"File for divorce."

"What about your assets?"

I slid my identification and a list of premarital property across the desk.

The attorney saw my maiden name and stopped.

"That is my name before marriage. Is there a problem?"

The attorney studied me for a moment, then let the matter go.

"No. Your premarital assets will be listed separately."

"I don't want Conrad's company. I only want to separate what belongs to me from this marriage completely."

As I left the law office, I received a message from Conrad's assistant.

Phoebe's school needs an updated vaccination record and confirmation of her emergency contact. Please take care of it tonight.

I replied: Contact her legal guardian.

There was no response.

That evening, Audrey called.

"Conrad is looking everywhere for replacement funding. They are not canceling Hale Living's thirteenth-anniversary gala on Friday. They want to use it to reassure investors."

"I know."

"Bennett Capital received an invitation too."

I said nothing.

Audrey asked, "Your father had a seat held for you. Are you going?"

"Yes."

That night, a black invitation arrived at the hotel.

There was no guest name and no seat number.

Only a silver letter B sealed the envelope.

I picked up a pen and wrote the name I had not used in thirteen years in the blank guest field.

Talia Bennett.