Chapter 1
My husband took his college sweetheart into our bedroom during a family party—so three minutes later, I projected their live betrayal across the living room and exposed them before everyone.
Julian’s mother, Eleanor, lifted her wineglass.
“To Julian,” she announced. “The perfect husband and the son every mother dreams of raising.”
Two dozen relatives applauded.
I almost laughed.
Julian wasn’t beside me.
He was upstairs.
With Serena Blake.
His college sweetheart.
The woman Eleanor had spent our entire marriage reminding me Julian “almost married.”
I knew exactly where they were because three minutes earlier, a security notification had appeared on my tablet.
Movement detected: Primary Bedroom.
I expected to see someone looking for a bathroom.
Instead, I saw Julian closing our bedroom door behind Serena.
Then she kissed him.
Beside our wedding photograph.
I stood silently while Eleanor continued praising her son.
“He works hard. He provides for his wife. He puts family above everything.”
Family.
That word finally made my decision easy.
Our living-room projector was connected to the home-security system because Julian used it to review footage when we traveled.
I picked up the remote.
“Actually,” I said, “since everyone is celebrating Julian, I brought something to share.”
Eleanor smiled proudly.
“How thoughtful.”
I turned on the projector.
The wall lit up.
Then the live bedroom feed appeared.
Julian had Serena pressed against our dresser.
Two dozen people froze.
Someone dropped a fork.
Eleanor screamed.
“Turn it off!”
I didn’t.
Serena suddenly looked toward the bedroom camera.
Her face went white.
Julian followed her gaze.
Then he disappeared from the screen.
Footsteps thundered upstairs.
Seconds later, he rushed into the living room.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I raised the remote.
“Introducing everyone to the real Julian.”
He lunged toward me.
I slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Serena came downstairs clutching her shoes.
I had already gathered the coat and overnight bag she had hidden in our guest closet.
I threw them onto the porch.
Then I pointed outside.
“Both of you.”
Julian stared at me.
“You can’t throw me out of my own house.”
I almost smiled.
“This house belonged to my grandmother.”
His face changed.
“The deed is in my name.”
Serena whispered, “Julian?”
I opened the front door.
“Your performance is over.”
He stepped outside, still arguing.
Serena followed.
I shut the door and locked it.
My phone buzzed.
My attorney had filed the divorce petition electronically.
Julian’s phone buzzed seconds later.
He looked through the window and read it.
His face collapsed.
Behind me, his family sat in stunned silence.
Then Eleanor stood.
“You think this means you won?”
I turned.
She smiled coldly.
“You have no idea what Julian owns.”
My attorney called at that exact moment.
Her first words made my stomach tighten.
“Claire, we found something in the deed history.”
I looked toward Julian outside.
“What?”
May you like
“He may have secretly borrowed against your house.”
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