Chapter 1
I opened my front door and found my husband’s mistress sitting on my sofa, wearing my robe.
When she slapped me and said the house would soon be hers, I stopped shaking and called my lawyer.
I came home early because my client canceled at the last minute.
Daniel’s car was not in the driveway.
But another car was.
A red convertible I had seen once before.
In a photo he forgot to delete.
I opened the front door slowly.
The living room smelled like my perfume.
Then I saw her.
Madison.
Sitting on my sofa.
Barefoot.
Wearing my silk robe.
Holding my coffee mug like she belonged there.
She looked up and smiled.
“Oh. You’re early.”
My hand tightened around my keys.
“Why are you in my house?”
She stood slowly.
“Our house soon.”
My stomach dropped.
“What did you say?”
Madison walked toward me with my robe tied around her waist.
“Daniel said you would make this dramatic.”
I glanced at the hallway.
My wedding photo was turned face down on the table.
My mother’s vase was gone.
A moving box sat near the staircase.
I looked back at her.
“Get out.”
She laughed.
“You still don’t understand, do you?”
Then she slapped me.
Hard.
My face turned sideways.
The room went silent except for the clock ticking behind us.
For one second, I wanted to cry.
Then I saw her hand reaching for me again.
I caught her wrist.
Her smile disappeared.
I twisted her arm down and shoved her back onto the sofa.
“Sit down.”
She gasped.
“You’re crazy.”
“No,” I said. “I’m done being polite.”
She tried to pull free.
I held her wrist against the cushion.
“You came into my home wearing my clothes.”
Her eyes flicked toward the front window.
Like she was waiting for someone.
That made my blood run cold.
“Who else is coming?”
She stopped moving.
Then the garage door rumbled open.
Daniel walked in carrying a folder and a set of keys I did not recognize.
He froze.
“Emily.”
I looked at the folder.
“What is that?”
Madison sat up quickly.
“Daniel, tell her.”
He swallowed.
“Let’s talk upstairs.”
I pulled out my phone.
“No. We’re talking with my lawyer.”
Daniel’s face changed instantly.
“Put the phone down.”
I dialed anyway.
When my attorney answered, I put her on speaker.
“Carter, my husband’s mistress is in my living room wearing my robe.”
There was a pause.
Then my lawyer said, “Emily, listen carefully. Is Daniel holding a blue folder?”
My eyes moved to his hand.
Daniel took one step back.
Madison whispered, “You said she’d already signed.”
The room went still.
My lawyer’s voice sharpened through the phone.
“Emily, do not let that folder leave the house.”
May you like
Daniel’s face went white.
And for the first time since I opened the door, Madison looked scared.
