Chapter 3

Richard's hands trembled slightly as he opened the envelope.

He tried to hide it — this was a man who'd built a reputation on boardroom intimidation and cold-blooded negotiations. But Grandma had a way of dismantling people that no business rival ever could.

Mr. Donovan scanned the QR code. The screen flickered to life.

Another recording. This time, it was audio — a phone conversation between Richard and someone I didn't recognize.

*"The Chen bakery brand is valued at three hundred and twenty million. Once Nathan locks down the marriage and the old woman dies, we restructure everything under Harrison Holdings. Elise won't know what hit her."*

*"And if she fights it?"*

*"She won't. She's a pushover. Nathan's got her wrapped around his finger."*

Richard's voice. Unmistakable.

The second voice continued. *"What about the prenup?"*

*"There is no prenup. That was the whole point. Nathan convinced her it was 'a sign of trust.' Idiot girl believed him."*

I felt the air leave my lungs.

No prenup. Nathan had told me we didn't need one because "real love doesn't need legal protection." I thought it was romantic. I thought it meant he trusted me.

It meant he was planning to take everything.

Nathan stood up. "This is ridiculous! Dad was just — he was brainstorming. Business talk. It doesn't mean—"

"Sit down, Nathan," Mr. Donovan said. "Your turn is coming."

Nathan's jaw clenched, but he sat. Karina whispered something in his ear, and he nodded stiffly.

On screen, Grandma appeared again.

"Richard, you always treated my granddaughter like a transaction. So let me speak your language."

A legal document filled the screen.

"Six months ago, I quietly acquired the sixty-three percent of debt your company owes to Pacific Credit Union. I now own your debt, Richard. Every cent. And per the terms I've set with my estate executor, that debt will be called in — in full — within thirty days of this reading."

Richard shot to his feet. "You can't—"

"I already did." Grandma's recorded voice was calm. "You have thirty days. If you can't pay, Harrison Holdings goes into receivership. I suggest you start making calls."

The color left Richard's face entirely. He looked at Nathan, then at Vivian, then back at the screen — as if Grandma might suddenly offer a way out.

She didn't.

"Oh, and Richard? The 'pushover' you were so confident about?" Grandma smiled softly. "She's the strongest person I've ever known. You just never bothered to look."

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood. *Grandma…*

Mr. Donovan allowed the room a moment to absorb the chaos. Vivian was whispering furiously to Richard. Nathan kept checking his phone. Brooke had gone pale.

And Karina — for the first time — looked genuinely afraid.

"Envelope number three," Mr. Donovan announced, "goes to Brooke Harrison."

Brooke flinched. "Me? I haven't done anything!"

"Then you have nothing to worry about," Mr. Donovan replied evenly.

He scanned the code. The screen lit up with text messages — hundreds of them — between Brooke and Karina.

The first message on screen was from Brooke to Karina, dated eighteen months ago:

**"He's miserable with her. You should go for it. I'll set up a dinner so you two can 'accidentally' meet again."**

Karina's reply: **"Are you sure? She's my best friend…"**

Brooke: **"So? She's boring, clingy, and Grandma's little pet. Nathan deserves better. YOU'RE better."**

Karina: **"What if she finds out?"**

Brooke: **"She won't. She's too trusting. That's her biggest weakness."**

I read every word on that screen, and each one landed like a knife between my ribs.

Brooke had introduced them. She had orchestrated the affair. My husband's own sister had hand-delivered my best friend into his bed.

Brooke's face crumpled. "It wasn't — I was just — Karina was unhappy too, and Nathan—"

"Save it," someone in the back muttered.

The texts kept scrolling. Dates, plans, alibis. Brooke had coached Karina on what to say, what to wear, when to call Nathan, how to make me feel like the problem in my own marriage.

One message made the entire room inhale sharply.

Brooke to Karina: **"Once the divorce goes through and he marries you, we split the inheritance three ways. You, me, Nathan. Deal?"**

Karina: **"Deal. ?"**

Brooke to Karina: **"Just keep playing the sweet best friend until the will reading is over. Then we're golden."**

Karina was never Nathan's great love.

She was a business partner.

And Brooke was the architect of it all.

Grandma's face returned to the screen. "Brooke, honey. I left you something special."

Brooke's lip quivered.

"I left you nothing. Not a cent. Not a crumb. But I did leave a copy of these messages with Elise's divorce attorney. I'm sure they'll be useful."

Brooke burst into tears.

Mr. Donovan straightened his tie and lifted the next envelope — thicker than the others, sealed with red wax.

"Envelope number four," he said, and for the first time, his voice carried weight, "goes to Nathan Harrison."

The entire room turned to look at my husband.

Nathan's face was stone. But his leg was bouncing under the table.

Karina reached for his hand, but he pulled away.