Chapter 4

The city was a tapestry of shadows and neon. Late into the night, my penthouse was quiet except for the soft hum of the heater, a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. I sat at the dining table, surrounded by stacks of papers, each representing a piece of my life. Eight years of bank statements lay before me, each line a testament to the trust I had misplaced.

With each transaction I reviewed, patterns began to emerge—hidden transfers to Ryan's account, small but significant withdrawals masked as mundane expenses. My heart clenched with each discovery, the reality of Ryan's…