The first thing I heard on my tenth wedding anniversary was my husband laughing inside the heart-shaped jacuzzi I had designed as a symbol of our marriage, with another woman whispering his name beside him. Before the night was over, I would invite Julian’s entire family into the house for an anniversary surprise he never saw coming. And I still had no idea the betrayal went beyond the two people behind that bathroom door.

I unlocked the balcony door, pulling Natalie inside. She was shivering, rain beginning to mist over her dark hair.

“What are you doing?” I whispered fiercely.

“Harper, you need to listen to me,” Natalie said, her voice shaking. “Julian and my mother… they’re completely insane. I didn't know it had gone this far.”

“Save the innocent routine, Natalie. You walked into my home with your mother tonight.”

“Because Mom told me Julian was planning to announce a peaceful divorce! She said they were going to offer you a buyout so everyone could walk away clean!” Natalie grabbed my arm, her eyes pleading. “I swear to you, I didn't know about Mia. I didn't know Julian was sleeping with her, and I didn't know Mom had set this up.”

I stared at her, assessing every micro-expression. Natalie had always been the black sheep of the Vance family—an artist, sidelined by Beatrice’s obsession with Julian’s social standing.

“Why should I believe you?” I asked.

Natalie opened her designer clutch and pulled out a silver flash drive.

“Because I stole this from Julian’s desk at Vance Enterprises three days ago,” she said. “He thinks he lost it.”

“What is it?”

“Julian’s encrypted emails with Mom’s private attorney. And Mia’s brother.”

I frowned. “Mia’s brother?”

“Mia didn't want to do this, Harper,” Natalie whispered. “Her younger brother is serving a five-year sentence in upstate New York. Julian and Mom hired the prosecutor who put him there, and they promised to pull strings with the parole board if Mia cooperated. But Julian… Julian crossed the line. He started sleeping with her two months ago, threatening to revoke her brother’s deal if she said no.”

The rage that surged through me wasn't just cold anymore; it was molten.

Julian wasn't just a greedy fraud. He was a predator.

“Where is Mia now?” I asked.

“Downstairs. Mom told her to wait in the guest house until morning. Mom is calling the bank right now to finalize the asset transfer at nine a.m. when the markets open.”

I looked at the silver drive in my hand, then at the laptop screen glowing on my desk.

“Natalie,” I said slowly, “do you love your brother?”

Natalie swallowed hard, looking toward the closed study door. “I loved the boy he used to be. But the man downstairs? He’s a monster. And my mother made him that way.”

“Then help me bury them,” I said.