Chapter 3

3

The document was thick and filled with complex legal jargon, but it was easy enough to decipher.

As I turned the first page, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

It was an elaborate trap.

Landon was secretly transferring Mercer Enterprises' core assets―including prime real estate and my architectural patents―to an offshore shell company registered in the Cayman Islands.

The sole beneficiary of that offshore entity was Valerie Brooks.

Even more terrifying was another document: "Skycrest Project Liability and Risk Assumption Agreement."

In the box for the legally responsible party, he had forged my signature.

The land for the Skycrest project had severe zoning violations and title disputes.

If the deal collapsed, I would be the legal scapegoat facing up to a decade in federal prison.

Meanwhile, Landon would flee overseas with all our wealth and his young mistress.

My knuckles turned white as I clutched the papers.

Everything made sense now.

No wonder he kept rushing me for the blueprints and insisted on making me the project lead.

He didn't trust me; he was squeezing out my final value before tossing me into a prison cell.

My phone buzzed with a text from Landon.

"Are the blueprints done? Valerie wants to review your work and learn from a senior designer. I'm bringing her over for dinner tonight, so cook something nice."

Review my work? Bring his mistress to our home for dinner?

He wanted me to cook for the very woman who took my father's emergency money?

What a sick joke.

I took a deep breath, backed up every single file to an encrypted cloud drive, and returned the safe to its exact state.

That afternoon, I went back to the hospital.

My father remained unconscious, surrounded by tangled wires and monitors that broke my heart.

I sat by his bed and squeezed his frail hand. "I'm sorry, Dad. I was a fool who mistook a venomous snake for a faithful partner. Don't worry, I'll get back every cent he stole from us."

I went online and sold off my collection of luxury designer bags, raising eighty thousand dollars in quick cash.

I transferred the entire sum to the hospital account and hired the best private specialists and round-the-clock nurses.

Leaving the hospital, I dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

Gabe Bennett, my senior from grad school, was now a senior partner at the city's top law firm and chief counsel to Landon's fiercest corporate rival.

He answered almost instantly.

"Nora? Is that really you? Ever since you married Landon, you completely dropped off the grid."

"Gabe, I need your help," I said, my gaze cold as I watched the passing skyline.

"Name it."

"I need you to investigate a Cayman offshore company. Also, I want to file an emergency asset freeze on every personal property under Landon's name."

Gabe paused on the line. "Trouble in paradise? That's a massive move, Nora. Are you sure? Landon is practically the golden boy of the commercial real estate world right now."

"A golden boy?" I scoffed. "He won't be for long."

After hanging up, I drove to the local supermarket.

I decided I would cook this final dinner after all.

Some endings needed to be delivered face-to-face.

At seven that evening, the doorbell rang right on cue.

Landon stood on the porch with Valerie draped over his arm.

Valerie was wearing the designer dress I had seen in magazines, carrying the exact limited-edition purse I had just pawned.

"Hi Nora, sorry for crashing your evening," she chirped with fake innocence, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Landon said you cook better than a private chef, so he insisted on bringing me over for a treat."

Landon held her waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Valerie has been exhausted planning her gallery debut. She needs proper nourishment. Is dinner ready?"

I glanced at their intertwined fingers and stepped aside. "It's ready. All set on the table."

Under the bright dining room chandelier sat three strange dishes and a soup.

Sautéed bitter melon, boiled kale stems, braised beef liver, and a steaming bowl of pungent cilantro broth.

Valerie's sweet smile instantly froze. "What is this...?"

"Don't like it?" I unbuttoned my apron and tossed it onto a chair.

"Bitter melon clears toxins, kale cleanses impurities, and liver rebuilds blood. Since you two have been so active and heated lately, you clearly need heavy detoxification. It's tailored just for you."

The room turned dead silent, and Landon's face darkened with fury. "Nora, what the hell is wrong with you!"