Chapter 1

The night my husband asks for a divorce, I am standing on a ladder, dusting his favorite chandelier.

He looks up at me with disgust and says, "I'm tired of supporting a useless housewife."

He doesn't know two things: first, the contact saved as "Chloe ❤️" is lighting up his phone. Second, his company, his luxury lifestyle, and even his parents' bills are all secretly funded by my family's trust.

I don't cry. I just step down from the ladder and quietly cancel all forty-two of his credit lines.

"Who are you trying to scare with your phone?" Carter says. He thinks I am just throwing a tantrum.

I don't answer. I just fold the cleaning cloth and place it on the kitchen counter.

The phone on the dining table buzzes. Carter glances at it and puts the call on speaker.

My mother-in-law's loud voice fills the room.

"Carter, tell your wife to send me the menu for tomorrow's banquet immediately!"

"Aunt Martha is allergic to seafood. Mr. Sterling needs that 15-year-old Macallan ready. And tell her to double-check the gift bags tonight. I don't want her embarrassing us tomorrow!"

Carter pushes the phone toward me across the table.

"Did you hear that?"

For seven years, I have managed every single detail of the Vance family's social events.

I remember the dietary restrictions of every relative. I remember exactly what kind of liquor Carter's clients prefer. I even remember which uncle gets belligerent when he drinks, so I always arrange a car to take him home early.

But right now, I don't want to remember any of it.

I take a step back.

"Let Chloe arrange it. Didn't you say she's more capable than me?"

"Chloe is coming with me to meet clients tomorrow. She doesn't have time for this."

"She's capable because she helps me make money. What can you do besides handle a few chores around the house?"

"I work myself to death every day to provide for this family, and you can't even handle a simple dinner?"

I look up at him.

He has always believed this family's luxurious lifestyle is entirely his doing.

He has absolutely no idea that in the last three minutes, I have pulled the entire foundation out from under him.

"Then let your mother handle it herself."

I turn around and walk toward the master bedroom.

Carter’s voice rises an octave behind me.

"If you dare walk out today, don't expect a single dime from me ever again!"

I stop in my tracks.

"Okay."

Inside the walk-in closet, I pull out a black suitcase from the bottom shelf. It holds only a few old clothes from before our marriage and my IDs.

Carter follows me in. Seeing the suitcase, he leans against the doorframe.

"Running away from home again? Last time you stayed at your mom's for two days and came crawling back."

"Let me tell you right now, I won't come get you this time."

"You won't have to." I zip up the suitcase. "The divorce papers will be at your office tomorrow."

"Fine. Let's see where a woman like you can go without me."

I drag the suitcase out, the wheels thudding across the hardwood floor.

Just as I am putting on my shoes in the entryway, the door to Leo's room cracks open.

My six-year-old son walks out, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He is clutching a remote control race car.

Chloe bought it for him yesterday.

"Leo, did we wake you up?" Carter instantly softens his tone and walks over to hug him.

Leo dodges him.

He doesn't look at me. He doesn't ask why his mother is leaving with a suitcase in the middle of the night.

He tugs at Carter's pants, looks up sleepily, and asks,

"Dad, since Mom is leaving, can Chloe move in now?"

Carter doesn't answer, but he glances at me.

Seeing no response, Leo mutters again,

"Dad said Chloe makes lots of money... Mom just stays at home..."