Chapter 1

Thanksgiving weekend was finally here, and my attorney husband had finally agreed to take the family on a trip.

But right as we were about to board, Derek still hadn't shown up ！ him or Lily. Just a text.

[Legal heavyweight Nathan Rhodes is meeting with our firm about a partnership. Bringing Lily along. Go enjoy yourself.]

Then a voice message from Lily, bright and breathless:

"Mom, he's like my absolute idol! I really want to go!"

Looking at the two of them, so sincere and united, I said one word. Fine. Then I called my childhood best friend to come pick me up.

The second I saw Nathan, I smiled.

"Shouldn't you be sitting across from my husband right now?"

---

Nathan stared at me, completely lost. I shook my head, said nothing, and pulled open the passenger door.

"Draw up a divorce agreement for me later. But first ！ we're catching my husband in the act. He's having an affair."

Nathan didn't ask twice. He floored it straight to Derek's firm.

The place was locked up. Dark. Not a soul inside.

A clerk from the convenience store next door leaned out:

"Looking for someone, ma'am? It's Mr. Gould's anniversary today ！ he rented out the entire Hartley Estate. Everyone from the firm is there celebrating."

Nathan glanced at me, one brow raised.

"Looks like you've got it wrong. Derek's planning a surprise for you."

Looking at Nathan's teasing expression, I couldn't even manage a smile. "Today is not our anniversary."

His expression froze.

My fist tightened. "Hartley Estate. Now."

---

We pulled up to the gate. I pushed the car door open and made it two steps before security moved to block us.

I stared through the lit windows at the silhouettes shifting inside the ballroom. My fist tightened further.

"I need to find someone in there."

One of the guards let out a short, contemptuous laugh.

"Got an invitation? No? Then get lost. Tonight is attorney Derek Gould and Miss Lara Sutton of Hartwell Group's anniversary. Don't come here starting trouble."

"Hartwell Group?" Nathan turned slightly, lowering his voice, something caught in his tone. "Isn't that also！"

Lara Sutton. The name snagged. I'd heard it before ！ Derek mentioned her constantly. Called her his buddy.

I didn't bother arguing with them. I reached back into the car and pulled out the Hartley Estate membership card.

The second they saw it, all three of them straightened up. They stepped aside without a word, eyes trailing us as we walked through.

I pushed open the ballroom doors. It was loud inside. Crowded.

I spotted them immediately. Lara bent forward with one hand braced on the table, Derek standing close behind her, a balloon trapped between them.

The crowd was pounding the tables, egging them on.

"Didn't Lara just say Derek's favorite position is from behind? So the dare is ！ pop the balloon between them, no hands. Go!"

Derek had always been so proper. In all our years of marriage, we'd barely been intimate ！ and every time I brought it up, he told me I was being inappropriate.

I was sure he'd be furious.

Instead, he reached forward, placed his hands on Lara's hips, and guided her into a bend.

Lara trapped the balloon between their bodies. Derek pressed himself flush against her, and the balloon buckled and warped under the pressure.

The room got louder. Whistles cut through the air. Phones went up, recording everything.

Something snapped in me completely.

I shoved through the crowd and drove my foot into Lara hard. She went down with a sharp cry.

Derek didn't even look to see who it was. He was already crouching to pull her up, face twisted with fury as he raised his eyes ！

And then he saw me.

He went still.

"How are you back?"