Two days later, Trevor found what he wanted.

Unfortunately, he misunderstood it.

Sadi sat at breakfast when Roman slid a tablet across the table.

She read the headline.

LOCAL ATTORNEY QUESTIONS VALE CHARITY FINANCES

Sadi looked up.

“Trevor?”

“Indirectly.”

The article implied that the charitable foundation Sadi managed was simply a vanity project funded by Roman.

Worse, anonymous sources questioned whether Sadi had any qualifications to oversee millions in donations.

She kept reading.

Then stopped.

“He told them about my past.”

“Yes.”

“Diner work. The apartment. Debt.”

“Yes.”

Sadi pushed the tablet away.

Roman's jaw tightened.

“I can make the story disappear.”

“No.”

“Sadi.”

“No.”

“He's using your life to humiliate you.”

“Then I'll answer with my life.”

Roman studied her.

“What are you planning?”

She smiled slightly.

“Something you hate.”

“That's a broad category.”

“A press conference.”

Roman stared at her.

“Absolutely not.”

“You don't get to vote.”

“I am your husband.”

“Exactly. Not my boss.”

Roman leaned back.

A pause.

“Fair.”

That afternoon, reporters gathered inside the Vale Community Foundation.

Sadi stood behind a microphone.

Roman remained offstage.

She had insisted.

A reporter raised her hand.

“Mrs. Vale, did you work at a diner before marrying Roman Vale?”

“Yes.”

“Were you deeply in debt?”

“Yes.”

“Did you live in your car?”

“For six weeks.”

The room shifted.

Another reporter asked, “Then how are you qualified to oversee a housing and food-security foundation?”

Sadi smiled.

“Because I've been hungry.”

Silence.

“I know what it's like to choose between electricity and groceries. I know what it's like to work fourteen hours and still be one emergency away from losing everything.”

She opened a folder.

“Last year our foundation provided emergency rent assistance to 1,842 families. We funded vocational scholarships for 317 adults and supplied meals through eleven community kitchens.”

A reporter asked, “Is that Roman Vale's money?”

“Some of it.”

She nodded toward the staff behind her.

“The rest comes from donors who actually read our audited financial statements instead of anonymous gossip.”

A few reporters laughed.

Across town, Trevor watched the broadcast from his office.

His senior partner, Mitchell Grant, turned off the television.

“What did you do?”

Trevor looked up.

“Nothing.”

“Don't insult me.”

“She's manipulating the story.”

Mitchell threw a printed email onto his desk.

“You contacted a journalist from your firm account.”

Trevor went pale.

“This is personal.”

“You made it professional when you used our name.”

Trevor stood.

“You don't understand who she's married to.”

“I understand exactly who she's married to. That's why I'm wondering why one of my partners decided to antagonize Roman Vale.”

Trevor lowered his voice.

“He doesn't scare me.”

Mitchell stared at him.

“Then you're either lying or stupid.”

Trevor's phone rang.

Chloe.

He answered immediately.

“Finally.”

“I'm not coming back.”

“Chloe—”

“I watched the security video.”

His face changed.

“Who gave you that?”

“That matters to you more than what you did?”

“You don't understand Sadi.”

“No. I understand you now.”

The call ended.

Trevor slammed the phone onto his desk.

Mitchell watched him.

“Go home.”

“What?”

“Effective immediately, you're on leave pending review.”

Trevor's eyes widened.

“You can't do that.”

“I just did.”

“This is Roman.”

“No.”

Mitchell pointed at the computer.

“This is you.”

That evening, Sadi found Roman on their terrace.

“You didn't call Trevor's firm?”

“No.”

“Didn't threaten anyone?”

“No.”

“Didn't buy the newspaper?”

Roman looked offended.

“Not today.”

She laughed.

Then grew serious.

“He's losing everything.”

Roman looked across the city.

“He's experiencing consequences.”

Sadi slipped her hand into his.

“I don't want revenge.”

Roman intertwined their fingers.

“Neither do I.”

She looked up suspiciously.

“Really?”

“I want you safe.”

“There's a difference.”

“I know.”

His phone vibrated.

Arthur's name appeared.

Roman answered.

“What?”

He listened.

His expression changed.

Sadi immediately knew something was wrong.

“What happened?”

Roman ended the call.

“Trevor just entered your old apartment building.”

Her smile vanished.

“My old apartment?”

Roman nodded.

“And he's asking questions about what happened three years ago.”

---