Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke up to shouting.

"Emma! EMMA!" Diane's voice screeched from downstairs. "Get down here NOW!"

I tucked the blanket around Lily, who was still asleep, and went downstairs.

Diane was standing in the kitchen, arms crossed, with Ryan's younger sister, Madison, sitting at the table scrolling her phone.

"There's no coffee," Diane snapped. "And the laundry from yesterday is still in the dryer. What exactly do you do all day?"

"I was up all night with Lily. She had trouble breathing again—"

"So? I had trouble sleeping too, but you don't hear me complaining. Now make breakfast. Madison has a job interview today."

Madison didn't look up from her phone. She was twenty-six, had never held a job for more than three months, and had been living with us rent-free for two years.

I had paid for her car. Her clothes. Her credit card bills.

"Actually," I said, "Madison can make her own breakfast. She's a grown woman."

The kitchen went silent.

Madison slowly looked up, eyes wide. Diane's face turned red.

"Excuse me?" Diane stepped closer. "You're her sister-in-law. It's your job to take care of this family. Or have you forgotten who gave you a roof over your head?"

I almost laughed. The house was under Ryan's name, but I had made every single mortgage payment for the past five years. Every. Single. One.

"I haven't forgotten anything," I said quietly. "But right now, my priority is my daughter, not making coffee."

Diane slammed her hand on the counter. "Your daughter, your daughter — that's all you ever talk about! What about MY needs? I'm your elder! In this house, I come first!"

At that moment, my phone buzzed. A message from my assistant, Claire:

"Surgery slot confirmed. Dr. Harrison will operate next Tuesday. Board meeting set for Wednesday. Press embargo in place. Everything's ready when you are."

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

"You're right, Diane. Things are going to change around here."

She looked momentarily satisfied, mistaking my words for surrender.

I made the coffee. I folded the laundry. I even made Madison an egg-white omelet because she was "watching her carbs."

But inside, a clock was ticking.

That evening, Ryan came home smelling like Chanel No. 5 — Vanessa's signature scent.

"How was your meeting?" I asked from the couch, keeping my voice light.

"Fine." He loosened his tie and headed for the fridge. "What's for dinner?"

"Pasta. Ryan, I need to talk to you about Lily's surgery. I found a way to cover the cost."

He paused. "How?"

"I called in some favors. The surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday."

He turned around, frowning. "You scheduled it without consulting me?"

"You said you didn't want to be involved."

"I said I didn't want to drain my accounts. That's different. What favors? Who did you call? I don't want to owe anyone."

"You won't owe anyone. I handled it."

He studied me for a long moment, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Then he shrugged.

"Fine. As long as it doesn't cost me anything."

As long as it doesn't cost me anything. His own daughter's life, and that was his only concern.

I nodded and went upstairs to put Lily to bed.

As I read her a story, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a photo from Claire — a screenshot of a tabloid article draft:

"Mystery Founder of $3.4B Aevitas Health Empire to Finally Reveal Identity at Annual Gala."

Below it, Claire had typed: "They're going crazy trying to guess who you are. Half the Forbes list is RSVP'd. You sure about this?"

I typed back: "Add Ryan's company to the guest list. Make sure his boss gets a personal invitation."

If Ryan wanted to play the big man, let him play.

But when Tuesday came, he was in for the shock of his life.

That night, as I was about to sleep, Ryan's phone lit up on the nightstand. He was in the shower. The screen showed a message from "V" — Vanessa.

"Baby, when are you telling her? I'm tired of hiding. And I want to wear the necklace to the company gala. 💋"

And then another:

"Also, your mom says she found the perfect apartment for us. Once you get rid of Emma, we can finally start our life together."

My hands didn't shake. My heart didn't race.

Instead, I smiled.

Because what Vanessa didn't know — what none of them knew — was that I had just acquired Ryan's company in a silent buyout.

Starting Monday, I wouldn't just be his wife.

I'd be his boss.