Chapter 3

Three years ago.

The access records filled the glowing screen. They looked like poisoned thorns. They stabbed right into my tired eyes.

I stared at the permission column. It clearly read: "Richard Hale".

Sienna did not hack my secure files. She was no tech genius. My own husband gave her the keys. Three long years ago, he opened the door to my private life. He took my blood and sweat. He handed my life's work to his lover like a cheap gift.

I used a hidden backdoor in the system. I broke straight into Richard's private email.

I quickly found an old email thread from three years ago.

Sienna asked a nervous question. "What if Evelyn finds out?"

Richard replied with cold, brutal confidence. "She won't fight for credit."

Then, I saw his next line. It completely crushed my last bit of foolish hope.

"She doesn't need credit. She needs to feel needed. As long as she believes I can't succeed without her, she'll keep designing."

I stopped breathing for a long second.

The sickening pain in my stomach completely faded away. A freezing, absolute calm washed over my body. I shivered, but not from fear.

Richard, did you really think you owned my soul?

I was not angry anymore. I had no desire to yell or scream. I sat in the dark and began my silent hunt.

I immediately cut off all access for Richard and Sienna. I locked down the core logic of the entire system.

Tomorrow at 9 AM is the final review for the Crescent Bay project. It is his biggest chip to survive in the industry.

I stared at a vital folder named "Crescent Bay_FINAL". A cold laugh escaped my lips.

Deleting it was far too easy. I wanted him to tear off his own "genius" mask on a brightly lit stage. I wanted the top clients to watch him ruin himself.

I opened my dusty, old archive. I found a very special raw file. It was named "Test Bait".

I renamed it. I quietly swapped it with his final presentation file.

...

The next morning arrived. It was 8:50 AM.

Only ten minutes remained until the final review.

Richard sent me a text. His tone remained blindly arrogant. He was entirely sure I would never leave him.

"Stop being dramatic. Send me the file right now. If we win this project, I will forget about last night. You are still Mrs. Hale."

I looked at the glowing screen. I felt nothing but pure disgust.

I did not type a single word in reply.

I simply opened my tablet. I logged into the online meeting system. I used an anonymous technical consultant ID.

The video feed quickly loaded. Richard wore a sharp, expensive suit. He was chatting smoothly with top developers. He looked incredibly confident.

He clicked his presentation remote. He smiled his perfect smile at the camera.

"Gentlemen, I will now show you the perfect design of Crescent Bay," he announced.

He did not know the fatal truth. He was not opening a winning hand. He was opening a complete disaster.

I picked up my mug of black coffee. I leaned back in my chair.

I watched his proud face on the screen. I spoke softly to myself.

"Start your show, genius."