Rain pelted the windshield as I parked outside the venue. Five years ago, Nathan had thrown me out in a storm just like this. Now I was back – with twins he never knew existed and evidence that could destroy his carefully constructed life.
The charity gala was Nathan’s crowning moment. Echelon Resorts’ youngest CEO surrounded by adoring investors and socialites. No one noticed the woman in the back until my sons’ voices rang out.
“Daddy?” Noah’s question made heads snap toward us. The resemblance was undeniable – my boys had Nathan’s sharp jawline and dark eyes. The room fell silent as realization dawned on Nathan’s face.
I didn’t need to shout. The documents in my purse spoke louder than any accusation. Contracts with forged signatures. Dates that didn’t add up. The foundation of Nathan’s success was as fake as the smile he wore that night.
“You built your empire on lies,” I said calmly. “Just like you built our marriage on empty promises.” The reporters in attendance didn’t miss a word. By morning, Nathan’s stock prices would plummet along with his reputation.
In the aftermath, people called it revenge. It wasn’t. Revenge would have been taking his money. What I wanted was simpler – for Nathan to see what he’d lost. To watch his sons grow up without him. To understand that no amount of wealth could buy back what he’d thrown away.
Now, when I tuck Caleb and Noah into bed in our cozy little house, I sometimes wonder if Nathan stares at his empty mansion walls thinking the same thing. The difference is, my walls echo with laughter and piano scales. His echo with nothing at all.
