Chapter 1

My mother didn't bring the other man home.

Instead, on my dad’s birthday, she handed him a divorce settlement and a asset division sheet.

On that spreadsheet, next to my dad’s name, was a single, mocking number: "0."

For ten years, my dad had given up his own career promotions to be a stay-at-home husband. All so my mom could build her empire.

"Richard, let's make this clean and painless," my mother said. Her tone was completely flat, as if she were negotiating a minor business deal.

"I'll let you keep the old cottage in the suburbs, and I'll throw in five hundred thousand dollars. For Chloe’s sake, I’d say I’m being incredibly generous."

My dad was shaking so hard his knuckles turned white. He grabbed the papers and tore them into shreds.

"Victoria! You're doing all this for that 'life coach' Julian, aren't you? Don't think I don't know! I have all the hotel records of you two on my phone!"

My mom’s face tightened for a split second, but she quickly recovered her cool.

"Evidence? Let's see it, then."

My dad frantically patted his pockets for his phone, but they were empty.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with sudden panic.

Meeting his gaze, I silently pulled his phone out from behind my back. Then, right in front of him, I tapped the factory reset button.

"Chloe, you..."

"Dad," I interrupted him, keeping my voice low and steady.

"Stop making a scene. Let's keep some dignity here."

"Do you have any idea how powerful Mom’s legal team is? Your so-called 'evidence' wouldn't even make it to a courtroom. If you drag this into a messy fight, you won't even get that five hundred thousand."

My dad stumbled back a step, staring at me as if I were a total stranger.

On the phone screen, the data deletion progress bar finally hit 100%.

That phone didn't just hold the records of my mom’s hotel stays with Julian. It also held every single receipt, every business contact, and every favor my dad had pulled to build her career over the last ten years.

It was my dad's last leverage.

And I had just destroyed it with my own hands.

"Why..." my dad’s voice was dry and raspy.

"Chloe, I'm your father."

"And because you're my dad, I don't want to see you sleeping under a bridge when you're old."

I walked over to him and slid the wiped phone back into his trembling hand.

"Dad, you can't beat her."

"Her company has a whole legal department. Any junior associate there could tear you to pieces in court. What do you have to fight her with?"

"I'm heading to college soon. I need tuition, and I need a respectable family background."

"What can I get by choosing you? Am I supposed to move into a cramped, run-down studio with you and clip grocery coupons every day?"

I glanced at my mother, who had remained silent the entire time.

"Mom is right. People need to look forward. Dad, it's time you accept reality."

A satisfied smile finally broke across my mother's face.

She walked over and patted my shoulder.

"Chloe, you've really grown up. You know how to play the game. You're ten times the person your useless father is."

She pulled a sleek black Amex card from her designer clutch and handed it to me.

"The PIN is your birthday. From today on, you are my sole heir. Everything I own will be yours."

I took the card obediently. "Thank you, Mom," I said, putting on my best sweet-daughter smile.

She didn't catch the underlying meaning of my words.

The keyword wasn't "heir." It was "sole."

Anyone or anything standing in the way of my inheritance would be systematically removed.

And that included her precious "life coach," Julian.

***