Chapter 3

3

Gideon didn't look sad. He looked relieved.

"That's your choice. Don't say I forced you."

I was a fool. I hadn't realized how badly he wanted out until that moment.

Before I could even blink, he pulled a set of papers out of his briefcase. It was a separation agreement.

"We're legally married, but we never had the ceremony. You want to leave? Fine. You leave with nothing."

I stared at the papers. I didn't reach for the pen.

Chloe took that moment to throw three photos onto the table. They showed me talking to a man in a parking lot.

"Gideon, she's been cheating on you for months," Chloe whimpered.

I glanced at the photos. It was the Uber Eats driver. Chloe's IQ was truly depressing.

"Those poor animals died because she was too busy flirting to check the oxygen levels," Chloe sobbed.

Gideon didn't even look closely at the photos. He just judged me.

"You're disgusting, Yara. You're a married woman and you're throwing yourself at delivery guys? Are you that desperate for attention?"

"Sign the papers. If you cause more trouble, I'll make sure you end up in a cell."

I stayed silent. This was the trap Chloe had set, and I was watching her dig the hole.

"Sign it," Gideon barked. "I'll give you fifty thousand dollars as a parting gift."

"Consider it my final act of mercy."

Three years of my life. My career. My heart. All worth a fifty-thousand-dollar tip.

On our engagement night, he had stood before our friends and promised me the world. Now, he was tossing me out like trash.

I took a deep breath. "I don't want your money. I'll leave with nothing."

I signed the papers in two seconds.

As I turned to leave, Gideon called out, "Wait. You were the lead on this project. You need to do a hand-off."

"For the next few weeks, you'll be Chloe's assistant. At least you won't be homeless."

He said it like he was doing me a favor. It made my skin crawl.

I turned back to face them. "She's the star student of the greatest ecologist in the country, right? Why does she need an assistant?"

Chloe's eyes flashed with hate, but she quickly put on her mask. "You're the senior here. I just want to learn from the best."

I looked out at the darkened, dying lake and smiled. "Fine. I'll stay."

Chloe had already destroyed the ecosystem. She was the one who would have to answer for it.

That night, I walked into the preserve alone.

Tears finally escaped, hitting the ground. Fireflies began to swarm around me, glowing in the dark.

I wiped my eyes. I couldn't cry. I had to make sure the right person was punished.

This was going to be the end of Gideon Graham's reputation.