Chapter 2

The morning after Halloween arrived with a bitter chill that had nothing to do with the November air. I'd barely slept, my eyes raw from crying and my mind racing with images from that livestream. Emma and Jake had eventually fallen asleep in my bed, their little bodies curled against mine as if to protect me from the cruelty of their father.

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, hardly recognizing the woman looking back at me. How had I become this person? This shadow of the brilliant programmer I once was?

"Mom?" Emma's voice called from the hallway. "Are we still going to Grandma Margaret's for brunch?"

The annual Thompson family Halloween brunch. I'd completely forgotten. My first instinct was to cancel—how could I face David's family after what happened? But then I realized: they were my children's grandparents. And perhaps, just perhaps, they would help us through this nightmare.

"Yes, sweetheart," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt. "Get your brother ready."

---

The Thompson estate loomed before us, imposing and cold despite its manicured perfection. As I guided the children up the stone pathway, my hands trembled slightly. I needed allies now more than ever.

"Sarah." Margaret Thompson's voice cut through the air as she opened the door, her eyes sweeping over me with barely concealed disdain. "You're late."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, ushering the children inside. "Margaret, something terrible happened last night. David—"

"In the dining room, please," she interrupted, turning her back on me. "Everyone's waiting."

The dining room buzzed with conversation that died the moment we entered. David's sister Jessica was arranging flowers while his father Robert read the newspaper. Neither looked up to acknowledge us.

"Grandpa!" Jake ran forward, but Robert barely patted his head before returning to his paper.

I took a deep breath. "Margaret, David was on a livestream last night with another woman. The children saw everything. He was... he was saying horrible things about me."

My voice broke as tears threatened to spill over. Margaret sighed dramatically, setting down her coffee cup with a sharp clink.

"Really, Sarah," she said, her voice dripping with condescension, "you're being dramatic. Men have needs, and you've let yourself go. David works hard and deserves some fun."

The words hit me like physical blows. I stared at her, unable to process her casual cruelty.

"Maybe if you actually contributed something to this family instead of being a financial burden," Jessica chimed in, "David wouldn't need to look elsewhere."

"I gave up my career for this family," I protested weakly.

"What career?" Robert snorted from behind his newspaper. "Playing with computers?"

They had no idea. No idea that the "playing with computers" had created the core technology that built their son's empire. I'd never told them—or anyone—about the patents I still held.

The doorbell rang, and Margaret's face transformed into a warm smile that had never been directed at me. "That must be David!"

My stomach dropped as voices echoed from the foyer. Moments later, David walked in with Candy on his arm, both still wearing their vampire costumes from the previous night, though they'd removed the fake blood. Candy's diamond necklace—my million-dollar replacement—glittered obscenely in the morning light.

"Everyone," David announced, his arm tight around Candy's waist, "I want you all to meet Candy. She's successful, beautiful, and actually understands what I need in a partner."

My children froze beside me. Emma's hand found mine and squeezed so hard it hurt.

"Oh, darling, she's lovely!" Margaret rushed forward, embracing Candy as if she were a long-lost daughter. "What a gorgeous dress!"

"Valentino," Candy preened, throwing me a triumphant glance. "David has excellent taste."

"In some things," Robert muttered, finally looking directly at me with unconcealed contempt.

"Sarah," Margaret turned to me, her smile vanishing, "why don't you help in the kitchen? We need the food brought out."

I stood frozen as Candy took my usual seat at the table. My seat. She picked up my napkin—the one with my monogrammed initials—and placed it delicately in her lap.

"Children," Jessica said with false sweetness, "you should start getting used to calling Candy your new mommy. She'll be taking better care of daddy."

"No!" Emma cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "She's not my mom!"

David's face darkened with anger. "Emma, that's enough! Your mother has been selfish and hasn't been a good wife. Candy is going to help our family be better."

As I stood there, relegated to servant status in front of my own children, something inside me began to shift. The pain was still there, raw and bleeding, but beneath it stirred something else—something that had been dormant for far too long.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Unknown number.

"Mrs. Thompson? This is James Mercer from Mercer & Holtz Law. I'm calling about your father's patent case. There's been a development you need to know about immediately."