Chapter 2The 24-Hour Marriage

Downstairs, my cousin Leo was waiting for me, sent by my father. He opened the door to a sleek black car as I approached.

"I saw the pictures you sent," he said as he gently guided me in, making sure I didn't hit my head. "The information is solid. My associates will have the rest of the proof by this afternoon."

"Thank you," I said, leaning back against the leather seat. As a private investigator, Leo's relationship with my family was purely transactional, and I was fine with that. "I'm suing Gary for divorce, and I plan to take him for everything he's worth. This evidence is crucial."

Sometimes, a clean transaction is more reliable than a messy emotion.

The pictures I'd sent Leo were screenshots from Gary's phone, taken while he slept last night. They showed a series of strange expenses on regular workdays, for the exact same amounts he had transferred to me. The recipient was a high-end, exclusive private club, the kind frequented by the rich and powerful.

The wait for the court date gave me enough time to get my affairs in order, to prepare for a clean break. I moved out of the house I had shared with Gary and into a small apartment my father had bought for me years ago.

But just as my preparations were underway, rumors about me started to circulate online. That evening, at a charity gala, I became the subject of pointed whispers and sideways glances.

"Isn't that the new Mrs. Cross? The one who demanded a divorce after one night? The nerve of her to show her face."

"Oh, that's her? I heard her father basically sold her into that marriage. Who does she think she is, trying to get a divorce? She's going to drag her whole family down with her."

"So Gary didn't give her enough money? Does she really think she's in a position to be throwing tantrums?"

"I bet she's found another man. Gary Cross is young and successful. If I were her, I'd never let him go."

Everyone, from established business tycoons to rising young stars, looked at me with a mixture of scorn and amusement. I felt a surge of anger and was about to call Gary to confront him when his voice cut through the ballroom chatter.

"Audrey! You're here! This is perfect."

His sudden appearance made the gossipers exchange nervous glances.

"You haven't been home for days," he said, walking toward me. "I had to beg my mother, but she finally agreed to let me give this to you."

He produced a velvet box and opened it to reveal an exquisite emerald heirloom.

A wave of gasps went through the nearby crowd.

"Isn't that the Cross family heirloom? The one his mother inherited? She said publicly she would only ever give it to her daughter-in-law."

"He must really love her. Even after all her ridiculous behavior, he begged his mother to give her the family emerald."

"That's so romantic! Audrey is so lucky."

They all expected me to melt, to take this as the grand romantic gesture it was designed to be and gracefully back down.

But my voice was still cold as I pushed the box away. "No, thank you. You should save it for someone else. After all, we're getting a divorce."

My words dropped like a bomb in the silent room.

Gary froze, his face a mask of shock. The crowd erupted, a chorus of angry voices accusing me of being ungrateful, of taking his love for granted.

I ignored them, excused myself from the party, and took a cab to Gary's house—the marital home where I had spent a single, miserable night.

While Gary and I were living in different cities before the wedding, I had gotten a puppy. After we got married, I had, of course, brought him to our new home. In my hasty departure, I hadn't been able to take him with me. Now, I was going back for him.

I keyed in the code to the front door. ACCESS DENIED.

Frowning, I tried again with my birthday. Then Gary's. All incorrect.

As I was about to try a fourth time, the door opened from the inside.

I hadn't expected anyone to be home.

I certainly hadn't expected that person to be Lily Marsh.