Chapter 10

Eugene didn't waste any time. "First, cut off all spending from your joint account right now. And if you can, make sure your own money is locked down and safe.

"Second, collect every bit of evidence you can get your hands on. All that stuff you mentioned is key, especially anything that proves they're having an affair or shows he's blowing your shared cash on her.

"Videos, audio, photos, receipts, chat logs, the more, the better, and make sure it's crystal clear.

"Third, about the house, what you paid counts as a gift with strings attached, or something you did because you thought you'd get married.

"You can demand your share back or get paid for what you put in, but you'll need a clear trail of proof.

"Fourth, if he spent big on her with your shared money, that's messing with your property rights. You can demand it all back.

"Most importantly, before you confront him, keep him calm and don't tip him off. Meanwhile, quietly secure your assets and make sure all your evidence is airtight.

"If you need, I can help you apply for a property preservation order, but you'll need solid proof and a strong case.

"Understood. I'll pull together all the evidence as fast as I can. I might need your help with locking down the assets. And..." I paused, my voice turning icy. "What if I want to destroy them, not just in court, but in the eyes of everyone?"

Eugene paused, thinking it over. "Within the law, public opinion is a double-edged sword, but if you use it right, it can put serious pressure on them, especially if both Brian and Chloe have jobs or care about their reputation.

"Just be careful how you go about it. Make sure your evidence is rock solid, or it could blow back on you. I can help you walk that line."

"Got it. Thanks, Eugene. I'll get in touch once I have everything ready. Charge me your highest rate."

"Don't worry about the fees right now. Just make sure you stay safe and be careful when you're gathering evidence," Eugene reminded me.

After hanging up, I slumped back in the driver's seat and let out a long, shaky breath. The law was an option, but it was way too slow and tangled up in red tape. What I wanted was something quicker, nastier, and straight to the point.

Legal punishment was just the start; what they really deserved was public humiliation, utter ruin, and being shunned by everyone they knew.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a message from Brian. [Emmy, something came up at work, so I might be home late. Go ahead and have dinner without me. Sorry, babe, for leaving you alone on New Year's Eve.]

He even threw in a hugging emoji at the end.

I stared at his message, and I could practically picture his face right now. Probably sitting in that private room at the Japanese restaurant, arm around Chloe, texting me while getting a kick out of playing both sides.

He must think I'm so easy to handle, so "understanding", the kind of girl who'll sit at home and wait for him, maybe even feel bad for him "working late."

I tapped out a reply: [It's fine, work comes first. Just focus on what you need to do, and don't push yourself too hard. I'll wait up for you to ring in the New Year together.]

I even added a gentle smiley at the end.

Acting? Who can't do that? If they wanted to play the perfect husband at home and the player outside, I would play right along. Let's see who cracks first.

Almost at the same time, the detective messaged again: [The couple finished their meal and left the restaurant. Chloe suggested going to a movie, and Brian agreed.

[They've headed to the fifth-floor cinema and bought tickets for a show starting in an hour, a romance flick. While waiting, they're hanging out at the arcade, getting pretty cozy. We've got the footage.

[Also, we've dug up Chloe's company directory and some of her coworkers' contact info.

[Her department has a bad rep, and there's been gossip about her and her direct supervisor for ages. Do you want us to dig deeper into her office drama and any dirt we can find?]

I said: [Yes. Get me everything you can, especially anything that could mess with her job or reputation. Focus on her direct supervisor.]

Chloe really loved using men to climb her way up, huh? Well, let me show her how filthy those guys she was hanging onto actually were and how much trouble they were really bringing her.

[Understood. The cost will go up.]

[Pay whatever it takes.]