"I imagined it."

"When my inheritance vanished from our joint accounts..."

"I imagined that too."

Daniel opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Emma reached into her purse.

One final envelope.

She placed it beside her wedding ring.

Inside was the document Daniel feared most.

Divorce papers.

Already signed.

Already filed.

Jonathan quietly added,

"Mr. Carter, you've already been served electronically."

Daniel stared in disbelief.

"When?"

"This afternoon."

Emma nodded.

"Before I cooked dinner."

His chair scraped backward.

"You planned this whole night."

"No."

Chapter 3: Why Tonight?

Daniel's mother finally exploded.

"Emma!"

"After everything this family gave you!"

Emma slowly turned toward Evelyn.

"No."

She said gently.

"Let's tell the truth."

"You never gave me a family."

"You gave me a position."

"A woman who cooked."

"A woman who smiled."

"A woman who apologized."

"But never a daughter."