I never told my husband I was the one who bought back his parents’ home—his rich mistress happily let everyone believe it was her doing.

“I am,” I said softly. “Especially after you tried to divide them like property.”

As the cuffs clicked around his wrists, he looked at me with something close to fear.

“You’re ruining my life,” he said.

I looked down at Noah and Lily.

“No,” I answered. “I’m protecting ours.”

When the hallway quieted and the winter light settled across the room, I realized something: the house had always been mine.

And now, finally, so was my future.