Chapter 3

Jessica was already waiting for me in the corner of Starbucks, coffee in hand.

She was dressed in a sharp black suit, a designer briefcase worth 26,000 dollars slung over her shoulder. She looked like she'd stepped out of a courtroom.

"You don't look so good," Jessica said, handing me a cup of coffee.

"I barely got any sleep last night. The baby from Michael's affair wouldn't stop crying," I said.

"Wait, they really brought the baby home?" Jessica's frown deepened.

I nodded, took a sip of coffee, and let the bitterness linger on my tongue.

"Emily, are you out of your mind? You're letting them stay in your house?"

"What choice do I have? His name's still on the deed. I can't kick him out."

Jessica set her coffee down, her eyes narrowing. "So, what's your plan?"

"The divorce is happening on the 30th. I paid for the house in full before we got married, but I put his name on the deed, so now he wants half."

"You bought the car, but since it's registered in his name, it's his now," Jessica said, ticking off the assets one by one.

I didn't say anything, stirring it absentmindedly.

"Did you know he's been shifting money around?" Jessica cut in.

I looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I had a friend look into it. The car under Michael's name? He transferred it to Anna last week."

"And the 120 thousand dollars in your joint account? He sent it to his mom in three separate transfers, all labeled 'living expenses.'"

Every word was like a knife, cutting deeper and deeper. 120 thousand dollars.

For the past three years, I'd been putting 3 thousand dollars into our joint account every single month, without fail. Then, Margaret ended up with every last dollar.

"Anything else?" I asked, keeping my tone steady.

Jessica glanced at me, as if she was checking whether I was really not angry. "He tried to transfer ownership of the house, but he needed your signature, and he couldn't pull it off.

"But he's already got a real estate agent lined up. He wants to sell the house as soon as the divorce is finalized and split the proceeds fifty-fifty."

I let out a cold laugh. "Split it fifty-fifty? Wow, he sure knows how to work the numbers."

The house I bought for $93,000 is now worth $103,000. He never paid a dime for it, but he still wants to pocket $51,500 for free.

"Emily, don't tell me you're actually going to let him get away with that?" Jessica pressed, her voice urgent. "I've known you for years. When have you ever let anyone walk all over you?"

Emily picked up her coffee and took a long, steady sip. "Jessica, how much do you think he can actually get away with?

"By law, you only split the increase in the house's value since you got married. So the most he can walk away with is 250 grand.

"The car might be in his name, but if you can show you paid for it, you can claim it as yours."

"And for the joint account, as long as you can prove the money was yours, you can get some of it back," Jessica spelled it out, nailing every legal detail.

I set my cup down. "It's not nearly enough."

"Not enough for what?"

"This is nowhere close to what I deserve." I stared out the window, sunlight glaring off the glass, almost burning my eyes.

"He made me quit working for three years, wrecked my career, trashed my reputation, and now he's bringing his mistress and their bastard child home to humiliate me.

"He owes me way more than money."

Jessica was quiet for a few seconds. "So, what's your move?"

I pulled a USB drive out of my bag and slid it across the table to her. "There are 107 recordings from the last 28 days. In every single one, either Michael or Margaret admits the kid is his illegitimate child.

"And that's not all. I've got bank transfers, chat logs, and even security footage of him at the hospital with Anna when she gave birth."

Jessica took the USB drive, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "When did you put all this together?"

"From day one." My voice was barely above a whisper. "For 28 days, I watched him leave every day to be with his mistress and saw him set the bastard kid's photo as his screensaver.

"I listened to Margaret gloat right in front of me about how the Johnson family finally had an heir.

"I didn't say a word. I pulled out my phone and hit record."

Jessica stared at the USB drive, silent for a long moment.

"You've really changed." Jessica broke the silence. "Three years ago, when you first got married, you told me all you wanted was a warm home, a husband who loved you, and a happy marriage.

"You told me you were willing to give up your career for your family, that it didn't bother you at all. And now?"

I stared at my own blurry reflection in the coffee cup. "Now, all I want is what's rightfully mine. Not a single cent less."

Jessica flashed that trademark cold lawyer's smile. "Alright, let's go all in."

She flipped open her laptop and brought up a document on the screen. "I've put together a new legal strategy for you. Forget settling. Let's take this straight to court.

"Grounds: cheating during the marriage, fathering a child with his mistress, and hiding assets.

"Here's what we're asking for: the house and car go to you, he leaves with nothing, and he owes you 330,000 dollars for emotional damages."

I stared at the words on the screen, a rush of satisfaction I hadn't felt in ages flooding through me. "Let's do it."

"But you need to be ready. Once we file, he'll come at you with everything he's got. His mom will kick up a fuss, and they might even try to intimidate you."

Jessica stared me down. "Can you handle it?"

I remembered when Michael almost hit me last night, and Margaret's voice echoing in my head: "You can't have kids, but Anna can."

And Anna at my doorstep, smirking, "This place is practically mine already."

"I can." Those two words were crisp and final.

Jessica snapped her laptop shut. "Then we'll head to court tomorrow and file the lawsuit before the 30th."

"By the way, didn't you say you haven't touched your computer in 28 days?" Jessica suddenly asked.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah, what's up?"

"So what have you been doing these past 28 days?" Jessica asked, her eyes glinting with a knowing look.

I lowered my head, not saying a word.

My phone buzzed.

On the screen: [Benjamin: Ms. Carter, the Johnson Group case is going to court tomorrow. Are you sure you're not showing up?]

I swiped the notification away and looked up. Jessica was already on her phone.

"Let's go. I've got a court session to get to," Jessica said, standing up and grabbing her bag.

I got up and had barely taken two steps when Jessica suddenly spun around to face me. "Emily, are you really a stay-at-home wife?"

My heart skipped a beat. "What else would I be?"

Jessica stared at me for a few seconds, then broke into a small smile. "Never mind. We'll know for sure tomorrow."

She turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

I stood there, my fingers gripping my phone tightly.

Forty-five hours left. My secret could stay hidden for another forty-five hours.