Chapter 4
The most agonizing part of Arthur's twisted plan was the open adoption arrangement.
Arthur had convinced me that maintaining contact with the birth mother was healthy for Leo.
He cited numerous psychological studies.
I had agreed because I thought I was doing the right thing for my son.
Because of that rule, Mia visited our house once a month.
She was coming over for dinner tonight.
At exactly six o'clock, the doorbell rang.
Mia stood on my front porch.
She looked incredibly young and fresh in a tight summer dress.
"Hi, Nora!" she said with a bright, fake smile.
"Come in, Mia. Leo is so excited to see you," I replied smoothly.
She walked into my living room like she already owned it.
Arthur came out of the kitchen.
His eyes lit up instantly when he saw her.
He handed her a glass of the expensive wine I had bought.
From the kitchen island, I watched them with newfound clarity: the lingering eye contact, the way they stood just a little too close.
For four years, I had hosted my husband's mistress in my own dining room.
For four years, I had cooked elaborate meals for her, thanked her endlessly for her sacrifice, even hugged her.
The sheer humiliation burned in my chest like a raging fire.
I remembered Mia crying in my arms after Leo's first birthday and thanking me for giving him a beautiful life.
At the time, I had believed her tears were gratitude.
Now I knew she had been standing in my home, smelling my perfume on Arthur's shirt, and laughing at me the moment she left.
During dinner, Leo sat on my lap.
He giggled and fed me a piece of bread.
Mia watched us closely.
A flash of genuine jealousy crossed her face.
She gave birth to him, but Leo only knew me as his mother.
I kissed Leo's cheek and looked directly into Mia's eyes.
"I cannot imagine my life without him," I said. "He is entirely mine."
Mia’s smile tightened immediately.
Her grip on her wine glass turned white.
She hated that I had the bond she secretly wanted.
After dinner, Mia left the house.
Arthur went upstairs to give Leo a bath.
Sitting on the living room sofa, I put my trap into motion. An accusation was not enough; I needed undeniable evidence, including Arthur’s own admission that he had orchestrated the fake agency.
When Arthur came downstairs, his hair was slightly damp.
I sat at the dining table with a fake financial portfolio.
"Arthur, my family trust unlocks next month," I said casually.
His eyes lit up with barely concealed greed.
He walked over and stood behind my chair.
"Really? That is amazing news, honey," he said.
"Yes. It is worth about two million dollars," I lied.
He stopped moving completely.
His breathing hitched.
"But the bank requires a comprehensive audit of all our past major expenses," I continued.
"They are reviewing everything."
"That includes the $100,000 agency fee we paid for Leo's adoption."
Arthur's smile stiffened instantly.
"An audit? Why?" he asked.
His voice cracked slightly.
"Just a routine check," I said.
"They need a signature from the agency director to verify the wire transfer."
I turned around and looked him dead in the eye.
"Can you get that document for me? Otherwise, the two million stays locked."
I knew the private agency did not exist and knew Arthur would panic.
To get his hands on the two million dollars, he would have to forge the documents.
He would have to create a fake paper trail and sign it.
And the moment he handed those forged documents to me, his crime would be undeniable.
He thought he was playing me. In reality, he was already standing on the gallows.
And I was firmly holding the lever.