On my wedding day, my husband and my adopted stepsister proudly held their newborn twins and announced it to me.

Lena lunged forward. “Don’t touch my children!”

Mr. Sato spoke calmly. “Temporary protective supervision has already been requested. The agency confirmed identity fraud involving the surrogacy documents.”

Lena’s face emptied completely.

Derek turned toward me furiously. “You planned all of this.”

“No,” I replied evenly. “You planned it. I simply kept evidence.”

Then he grabbed my wrist.

The ballroom fell silent again.

I looked down at his hand.

“Let go.”

He didn’t.

Evelyn slapped him.

The crack echoed through the ballroom like a judge’s gavel.

“Let. Her. Go,” she said.

He released me instantly.

Mr. Sato handed Derek another envelope. “Pending investigation, you are removed as interim chief financial officer of Vaughn Medical Holdings.”

Derek laughed wildly. “You can’t do that.”

“I can,” Evelyn answered quietly. “Maya uncovered the offshore transfers you authorized. The board voted this morning.”

His knees nearly gave out.