Chapter 2 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE JACUZZI
Nobody moved.
Beatrice set the roses on the entry table with trembling fingers.
"Julian, not here."
I laughed once, without humor.
"Interesting. My husband cheats on me in our bathroom, and apparently the location isn't the problem."
Richard's face darkened.
"Harper, please. We should sit down."
"Of course. Ten years of marriage deserves at least a comfortable chair."
Julian stepped toward me.
"You're making this worse."
"No, Julian. I'm finally making it visible."
Mia appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a borrowed robe. Her eyes were swollen, and she held a small handbag against her chest.
Beatrice immediately crossed the room.
"Sweetheart, come downstairs."
Sweetheart.
The word landed harder than I expected.
I had never heard Beatrice address our housekeeper that way.
Mia descended slowly, refusing to look at me.
When she reached the final step, Natalie stood and faced her brother.
"Tell her the truth."
Julian's expression hardened.
"Stay out of this."
"You told me Harper was already leaving you. You said the divorce papers were signed."
My stomach dropped.
"What divorce papers?"
Nobody answered.
Then Richard opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"Harper, there is something you need to understand about this marriage."
I stared at the folder.
Julian's signature appeared on the first page.
Mine appeared beneath it.
Except I had never signed those papers.
I snatched the document from Richard and examined the signature more closely.
Someone had copied my handwriting with frightening precision.
"Who forged my name?"
Beatrice began crying.
Richard looked at his son.
And Mia whispered, "It wasn't Julian."
Every face turned toward her.
May you like
She swallowed hard.
"His mother paid someone to do it."
