Chapter 4

At my husband’s inheritance ceremony, his mistress sat in the wife’s seat.

I was pushed away, sitting alone in the dark shadows behind the catering staff.

The estate was blindingly bright.

Waiters walked past my table with champagne, while I kept my hand over my phone.

I was waiting to learn whether the judge had stopped Adrian from handing Blake Horizon to the family tonight.

At the front of the room, Camille bathed in the spotlight. She wore a custom silver gown—the dress meant for the heir’s wife.

My son, Owen, sat right next to her, happily eating a dessert. They looked like a perfect, wealthy family.

The lights dimmed. A massive screen lit up above the stage, playing a video titled: Building an Empire from Nothing.

The narrator praised Adrian’s independent struggle. Then, the screen cut to Camille.

"During the darkest days of the startup," Adrian’s voice echoed through the speakers, "Camille was the only one who understood my mission. She stood by me when I had nothing."

My fingernails dug into my palms.

Camille didn't stand by him. I did.

When Adrian had no electricity, Camille was at a country club.

When he needed money, I mortgaged my dead mother’s house and worked until my feet bled.

He wasn't just stealing my money. He was erasing me and pasting Camille over my wounds.

The video ended to loud applause. Adrian walked onto the stage in a tailored tuxedo, smiling down at Camille as the Chairman stepped up with the heavy share binder.

Adrian walked straight through the crowd, heading directly toward my dark corner.

His lawyer, Mr. Vance, followed closely behind him.

Adrian stopped at my table. Pure arrogance radiated off him.

He dropped the Spousal Waiver and a heavy gold pen in front of me.

"Sign it," Adrian whispered. "The board is about to accept Blake Horizon into the family group. Once the handover is complete, they will release my inheritance. Do not ruin this for me."

I stared at the blank signature line. My left hand stayed firmly over my phone. The screen was still dark. Maya had not texted.

Across the room, Camille turned in her seat. She looked at me holding the pen, a smug smile on her face. She thought she had won.

I picked up the pen. The metal felt heavy. I lowered the tip toward the paper, stalling for time. I needed one more second.

Bzzzt.

My phone vibrated against the table.

I flipped the screen up. It was a single text from Maya:

The judge signed the emergency order. Adrian is legally forbidden from transferring Blake Horizon to the Blake family tonight.

I read the message twice.

Without the handover, the board could not release his inheritance.

His ceremony was already over. He just did not know it yet.

I looked up at Adrian. My heart pounded, but my hand was steady.

I kept the pen suspended above the signature line.

Before Adrian could speak, the Chairman tapped the microphone from the stage.

"Mr. Blake, the board is ready."

Adrian glanced toward the stage, irritation flashing across his face. He had waited six years for this moment. He could not keep the entire room waiting over one signature.

He turned sharply to Mr. Vance.

"Get it done before the transfer begins."

Then he looked down at me.

"Do not make me come back here."

He turned and strode toward the brilliant stage, still certain that I would surrender.

Mr. Vance remained beside my table. He pushed the waiver closer and lowered his voice.

"Sign it now."

The Chairman opened the heavy binder. The hall fell into a breathless silence.

"Once Blake Horizon is transferred into the Blake Group tonight, Adrian Blake will officially receive his inheritance and be recognized as the next heir—"

I slowly set the gold pen beside the unsigned waiver.

BANG.

The heavy mahogany doors at the back of the banquet hall crashed open.

The music stopped.

Hundreds of guests turned as a court officer strode into the room, holding a thick legal folder.

His eyes locked onto the man standing beneath the spotlight.

"Adrian Blake?"