Nora's POV
I text Marcus: Midnight. I'll have my answer. But I need more time with Jennifer. Five minutes. Alone.
His response comes immediately: No. You get nothing until you choose.
Rage floods through me. He has Jennifer. He has fake evidence. He has me trapped.
And I have exactly twelve hours to figure out how to destroy him.
I'm still at the hospital, Eleanor sleeping peacefully, when a delivery person appears with the most enormous bouquet of roses I've ever seen.
Nora Ashford? he asks.
I nod numbly. He hands me the arrangement and leaves.
The roses are beautiful. Expensive. Blood red.
My hands shake as I pull out the card.
To Nora. Some marriages are built on lies. Yours will crumble like sand. Sweet dreams, Mrs. Ashford. —M
The card slips from my fingers.
He sent flowers to the hospital. He knows where I am. He's been tracking me.
I call Dominic with trembling hands.
Nora? He answers immediately. What's wrong?
Marcus sent flowers. To the hospital. He knows I'm here with your grandmother.
Silence. Then: I'm sending security. Now. Don't move until they arrive.
Dominic
Don't argue. Please. His voice cracks slightly. I can't lose you too.
The vulnerability in those words makes my chest ache.
Twenty minutes later, two security guards escort me back to the penthouse. Dominic's waiting, pacing like a caged animal.
He crosses the room the moment I enter, pulling me into his arms.
He's escalating, Dominic says against my hair. Getting bold.
Or desperate, I whisper.
He pulls back, studies my face. What aren't you telling me?
Everything. I'm not telling you everything.
Nothing. I'm just tired.
His eyes narrow. He doesn't believe me. But his phone rings before he can push.
James. What? His expression darkens. When? Pause. I'll be there in an hour.
He hangs up, jaw tight. There's a charity gala tonight. Major donors, board members, press. Victoria will be there, probably spreading more poison about our marriage.
Can we skip it?
I wish. But showing weakness now would be fatal. He cups my face. I need you with me. Can you do this?
I think about Marcus's deadline. About Jennifer tied to a chair. About the lies threatening to bury us both.
Yes, I lie. I can do this.
The gala is exactly what I expected—crystal chandeliers, champagne, people dripping in diamonds and judgment.
I wear a red dress that probably costs more than my college tuition. Dominic's eyes went dark when he saw me in it, a look that made my knees weak.
Now his hand rests possessively on my lower back as we navigate the crowd.
Dominic! There you are! A woman in diamonds swoops in, air-kissing near his cheeks. And this must be your bride. How delightfully unexpected.
Unexpected but welcome, Dominic says smoothly.
More people swarm. Everyone wants to meet the mysterious wife. Their smiles are fake, their questions pointed.
How did you meet?
When's the honeymoon?
Such a whirlwind romance!
I smile until my face hurts, lying with every breath.
Across the room, I spot Victoria. She's holding court with several board members, her expression poisonous when she sees us.
She's working them, I murmur to Dominic.
Let her. We have bigger problems.
Then I see him.
Marcus.
He walks in like he owns the place, wearing a tuxedo that probably cost a fortune. And on his arm
No.
Jennifer.
My supposed best friend. Wearing a designer dress, smiling like everything's fine.
The room tilts.
Nora? Dominic's hand tightens on my waist. What's wrong?
Jennifer, I breathe. That's my roommate. My best friend.
Was my best friend.
They approach. Marcus's smile is victorious.
Nora! What a coincidence. His eyes gleam with malicious pleasure. Dominic. Congratulations on your marriage.
Marcus. Dominic's voice could freeze fire.
And Jennifer, I choke out. What are you doing with him?
Jennifer's smile is apologetic, but her eyes are hard. Marcus and I have been seeing each other for a few weeks now. He told me everything, Nora. About how you falsely accused him. Made up evidence.
The betrayal tastes like metal in my mouth.
That's not
I'm sorry, but I believe him. Jennifer's voice is gentle, pitying. You were always so obsessed with being right, even when you were wrong. I should have seen it sooner.
My best friend. The person who knew all my secrets, who held me while I cried over Marcus's betrayal.
She chose him.
Jennifer— My voice breaks.
Don't. She steps closer to Marcus. I know the truth now. About everything you did. And I can't be part of your lies anymore.
Rage burns through my shock. She's lying. She has to be. The video showed her terrified, tied up.
This is an act. Marcus is forcing her.
But she looks willing. Happy, even.
How touching, Dominic says coldly. A traitor and a thief, perfectly matched.
Marcus's smile sharpens. Careful, Ashford. That's my girlfriend you're insulting.
And that's my wife you've been harassing. Dominic pulls me closer, protective and possessive. Touch her again, speak to her again, even look at her wrong, and I'll bury you so deep you'll wish for prison.
The threat hangs in the air.
Marcus laughs. Such drama. I'm simply congratulating an old friend on her new marriage. Though I do hope it lasts longer than our engagement did. That one ended rather... explosively.
Because you're a thief and a liar, I say, finding my voice.
According to you. But everyone knows how that turned out. He glances at Jennifer. Even your closest friends stopped believing you eventually.
The words are designed to cut. They succeed.
We're done here. Dominic starts to steer me away.
Wait. Marcus's voice stops us. One more thing, Nora. Check your phone. I sent you something. A little reminder of old times.
My blood runs cold.
We move to a quieter corner. I pull out my phone with shaking hands.
A video file. Sent two minutes ago.
I press play.
It's security footage from six months ago. My old office. I watch myself enter frame, looking around nervously.
Then I do exactly what the previous video showed—open Marcus's desk, photograph files, put something back.
But this version is longer. It shows what I put in the drawer.
A flash drive.
The timestamp shows me planting it thirty minutes before I discovered Marcus's embezzlement evidence.
No, I whisper.
Dominic leans over my shoulder, watching. What is this?
I don't—I didn't— My hands shake so badly I nearly drop the phone.
Is that you? His voice is carefully neutral. In Marcus's office?
Yes, but I didn't plant anything. I was looking for evidence, I found it, I didn't—
The video keeps playing.
I watch myself look directly at the camera. Smile. Like I know I'm being recorded.
Like I'm proud of what I just did.
That's not me, I choke out. I mean, it's me, but I didn't—I wouldn't—
Dominic takes the phone, studies the video. His expression is unreadable.
When was this taken?
Six months ago. The night I found proof of Marcus's embezzlement. Tears burn my eyes. But I swear, Dominic, I didn't plant evidence. I found real proof. This video is—
Edited? Faked? His voice is too calm. Or real?
The question cuts through me like a knife.
I don't know, I whisper. I don't remember doing that. I remember being angry, desperate to prove he was guilty. But I wouldn't have—
Wouldn't you? Victoria's voice cuts in. She's appeared beside us, elegant and venomous. Wouldn't you do anything to destroy the man who humiliated you?
Stay out of this, Victoria, Dominic warns.
Why? She's clearly lied to you about everything else. Victoria's smile is poisonous. Tell him, Nora. Tell him how you fabricated evidence against Marcus. How you've been lying from the beginning.
I didn't—
Then explain the video. Victoria crosses her arms. Explain why you're on camera planting evidence, then 'finding' it thirty minutes later.
I can't. I have no explanation that doesn't make me sound guilty.
Dominic's staring at me, waiting.
I don't remember, I finally say. That night is blurry. I was so angry, so desperate. But I wouldn't have crossed that line. I'm a journalist. I have ethics.
Do you? Victoria asks. Because from where I'm standing, you're exactly what Marcus said—a vindictive ex willing to destroy anyone who gets in her way.
Enough. Dominic's voice cracks like a whip. Both of you, stop.
He grabs my hand, pulls me toward the exit.
Outside, cool air hits my face. I'm shaking uncontrollably.
Dominic, please. You have to believe me—
I don't know what to believe. He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident. That video looks real, Nora. Very real.
It's not! Or it is, but I didn't— I'm crying now, desperate. I would never plant evidence. Never.
But you were there. In his office. Touching his desk. He turns to face me. What were you really doing that night?
Looking for proof! Real proof! My voice rises. I found files showing his embezzlement. I photographed them. I reported it.
After planting a flash drive?
I didn't plant anything!
Then how do you explain the video?
I can't! The admission breaks me. I can't explain it. But I'm telling the truth. I swear.
He studies my face for a long moment.
Then his phone buzzes.
He looks at it. His expression goes deadly cold.
What? I ask.
He shows me the screen.
An email. From an anonymous sender. Subject line: The Truth About Nora Chen.
Inside, a dozen more videos. Screenshots. Documents.
All showing me doing things I don't remember.
Accessing Marcus's accounts. Copying files. Meeting with people I've never seen before.
And at the bottom, a message:
Still think your wife is innocent? Or is she the best liar you've ever met? One thing's certain—she's been using you from the beginning. The marriage, the investigation, all of it. She's playing you, Ashford. Just like she played Marcus. Wake up before she destroys you too. —A Friend
Dominic's jaw tightens.
He looks at me, and for the first time since we met, I see doubt in his eyes.
Real, bone-deep doubt.
Tell me the truth, Nora. His voice is quiet, dangerous. Right now. No more games. Did you use me? Is this whole marriage a setup to take down Marcus, no matter who gets hurt?
No! I would never—
Then explain! He grabs my shoulders. Explain the videos. The evidence. Explain why you look guilty of everything Marcus accused you of!
I can't! Tears stream down my face. I don't know! But you have to trust me—
Trust you? He laughs bitterly. How can I trust you when I don't even know what's real anymore?
My phone buzzes.
Marcus: Deadline's moved up. You have one hour. Leave him now, or I release everything. Including the video of you stealing from Ashford Industries. Your choice. Tick tock. —M
I stare at the message, my world crumbling.
One hour to choose.
Save myself and lose Dominic.
Or stay and watch Marcus destroy us both.
I look up at Dominic, whose eyes are filled with doubt and pain.
And I realize the truth.
I'm going to lose him either way.