My husband came home and said, “I’m in love with another woman, but I still love you, so I’ll just live in both houses” — I thought he was joking until he began packing, so I taught him a lesson he never expected from me.

 

Ward’s compliance.”

 

“What about my rights?” Callum demanded.

 

“Your son’s welfare is not a reward for you.”

 

In a second courtroom that afternoon, Callum entered guilty pleas to forgery, financial deception, and unlawful access to private accounts.

 

The magistrate looked directly at him.

 

“You exploited the

trust of your wife, your partner, your mother, and a lender.

 

You will serve twelve months under a suspended sentence, complete two hundred hours of community service, repay the ordered funds, and comply with a financial restriction order for three years.”

 

Callum turned as an officer directed him toward the side door.

 

“Tessa,” he called.

 

“I could have made the arrangement work.”

 

I stood beside Elena and Vivian.

 

“No,” I said.

 

“It only worked while none of us spoke to each other.”

 

His hand tightened around the doorframe.