Fake Divorce, Real Retribution

Synopsis

The American Express alert chimed on my phone at exactly 2:47 PM, interrupting my review of quarterly investment reports. I glanced at the notification with the casual indifference of someone accustomed to substantial charges—until I saw the amount. Six thousand dollars. Hermès Beverly Hills. I set down my Mont Blanc pen, the burgundy leather of my home office chair creaking as I leaned back. Six thousand dollars wasn't unusual for our household expenses, but something about this particular charge felt off. Tanner typically consulted me about major purchases, a courtesy born from years of managing our combined finances with military precision. I opened the detailed statement on my laptop, my manicured fingers clicking across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. The transaction details populated: one limited-edition children's backpack, custom monogrammed, purchased for immediate delivery to the Shaw residence on Maple Drive. Atlas and Eliana's address. My throat tightened. A six-thousand-dollar backpack for Violet? She was only six years old. What six-year-old needed a Hermès backpack that cost more than most people's monthly salary? I pulled up Tanner's location on our shared family app—still at his downtown office, deep in client meetings according to his calendar. The rational part of my mind supplied reasonable explanations: perhaps it was Violet's birthday, or maybe Tanner was feeling