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Chapter_54
The weight of the realization hit me hard, but I couldn’t afford to let it break me. The ruthless calculation of Matthew and his family had exposed a truth I had refused to acknowledge for far too long. This wasn’t just about a failed marriage anymore. It was about survival.
I was no longer just a wife trying to salvage her home. I was a woman determined to take control of the wreckage left behind. If I couldn’t reclaim my love or my family, then I would at least make sure I wasn’t the one left empty-handed. Matthew’s betrayal cut deeper than anything I had imagined, but it also lit a fire within me.
When I saw Melanie’s message, my blood ran cold. There was no doubt in my mind that she was aware of my unraveling marriage. And the picture of her at a car dealership? It only confirmed what I already suspected—she was making her move, likely with Matthew’s money. I couldn’t sit idly by anymore. I had to act.
I walked straight into Matthew’s office, which now felt more like a space I no longer belonged in. My mind raced as I formulated a plan with precision. There was no turning back now. If Matthew was going to keep up his facade, so would I. But unlike him, I was going to make sure my moves were calculated, leaving no room for regret.
The private investigator was an essential piece of this puzzle. I didn’t just want answers—I needed leverage. Ivanna, with her always-efficient mind, was on board, but I could see her hesitation. She wasn’t wrong, though. Setting up two people with no direct involvement was tricky. But my resolve was unwavering. If Lauren and Matthew had been hiding something, it wouldn’t remain hidden for long. And if they hadn’t, well, I’d be more than happy to create the illusion. There was no room for weakness in this game.
“You want to see all three of them fighting?” Ivanna’s eyes sparkled, seeing the bigger picture. I nodded. That was exactly what I needed. Melanie had always been a wild card—her jealousy and vindictiveness would make her the perfect catalyst. With her involved, Matthew’s control over the situation would crumble. He wouldn’t see it coming.
I made sure Ivanna understood the stakes, and she agreed without further protest. “I’ll make it happen, but we need to be careful. If we pull this off, we have to be ready for the fallout.”
I wasn’t worried about the fallout. What I needed was leverage. And once I had that, nothing Matthew or his family had could touch me.
Aaron’s contribution was the final piece I needed. A tracking device on Matthew’s car? It sounded too simple, but it was exactly what I needed. I would know where he was at all times. Every meeting, every rendezvous—nothing would remain hidden. No more pretending to be oblivious. No more waiting in the dark while he lived his double life.
Later that afternoon, I received the call from my mother, and though the news about my father’s condition lifting was a relief, it barely registered. Ava needed me, and I needed to clear my head before facing her. I didn’t want her to see the storm brewing inside of me. She deserved peace, even if I couldn’t provide that for myself right now.
But as I walked through the city streets, the falling autumn leaves swirling around me, my thoughts kept returning to one thing: Matthew’s out-of-town business. I knew what that meant. The same hollow, rehearsed line he always used when he was sneaking around.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it, the sound sharp enough to make a few passersby glance nervously in my direction. I was no longer pretending. I was no longer the woman who would silently endure.
I was going to make him face the consequences. And this time, I wasn’t going to be the one left broken in the end.