Chapter 3

Sophia did not take the hint. The next morning, she cornered me in the hallway as I was heading down for breakfast. Ethan and Liam were standing right behind her, a unified front of hostility.

"Let's get one thing straight," Sophia hissed, her voice low and venomous. "I'm not just a tutor. I'm going to be the new Mrs. Miller. This house, that company, all of it will be mine soon. The best thing you could do for yourself and your bastard child is to sign the divorce papers and leave quietly."

The sheer nerve of it was almost impressive. She was openly declaring her intentions, believing I was powerless to stop her.

I glanced past her at my husband. Ethan, who a moment ago had looked supportive of Sophia, immediately flinched under my cold gaze. He saw the look in my eyes, the one that reminded him of boardroom negotiations where I had dismantled opponents twice his age. He knew that look meant trouble.

"Sophia, that's enough," he said weakly, taking a step back. "Don't talk to Olivia that way."

His cowardice was as predictable as it was pathetic. He wanted the benefits of Sophia's scheme, but he was terrified of the consequences of my anger.

I simply smiled. "Is that so, Miss Davis? Well, good luck with that."

I brushed past them and continued on my way, leaving her fuming. Her mistake was thinking this was a fight about a man. This was a fight for my life, my child's life, and my empire. And she had just shown me all her cards.

Later that day, I noticed something was amiss. I went to my walk-in closet to choose a necklace for the annual Children's Hospital Charity Gala, a major society event I chaired every year. My jewelry box was open.

Missing was the "Star of the Sea," a stunning sapphire and diamond necklace my grandfather had given me for my thirtieth birthday. It was unique, instantly recognizable, and worth a small fortune. Also gone was the matching limited-edition clutch from a famous Parisian designer.

I didn't need to guess who the thief was. Sophia was planning to make her grand debut into high society wearing my identity.

A quick check of her social media confirmed it. She had posted a "sneak peek" photo to her Instagram story. It was a close-up of the Star of the Sea, draped over the matching clutch. The caption was sickeningly smug: "Can't wait to shine tonight! #CharityGala #MakingADifference"

She was going to wear my stolen necklace to my own event. The humiliation she was planning was immense. The gossip columns would have a field day.

But I wasn't the same heartbroken woman from my past life. I was a strategist.

First, I called the head of security for my closet's smart-system. "Change all the access codes. Effective immediately. No one gets in but me."

Second, I called the gala's event manager at the Grand Imperial Hotel. "Helen, it's Olivia Chen. I have a small security concern for tonight. An uninvited person, a Miss Sophia Davis, may attempt to gain entry. Please have your staff on alert. She is not on my guest list."

Third, I logged into my primary credit card account. I saw the supplementary card in Ethan's name, the one he'd been using so freely. With a few clicks, I froze the card. Then I went through and froze every other card and account he had access to. I cut off his entire financial supply line.

Finally, I sat back and waited.

An hour before the gala, my plan began to bear fruit. A frantic-sounding Ethan knocked on my locked bedroom door.

"Olivia! Olivia, open up! It's an emergency!"

I let him knock for a full minute before I opened the door a crack.

"What is it, Ethan? I'm trying to rest."

He looked disheveled and panicked. "The card... it's not working! I tried to pay for the car service to take Sophia to the gala, and it was declined! I tried another one, also declined! Did you do something?"

I feigned surprise. "Did I? That's strange. Maybe you hit your limit after your shopping spree yesterday."

"The limit is a million dollars!" he sputtered. "Sophia needs to get to the gala. She needs to make a good impression! People are expecting her!"

"Are they?" I asked mildly. "I wasn't aware she was so important."

Sophia appeared behind him, already dressed in one of my evening gowns that she had also stolen from my closet. She was wearing the Star of the Sea. She looked furious.

"Stop playing games, Olivia!" she shrieked. "You're just jealous. Give Ethan the money. We need to go!"

"I'm afraid I can't," I said calmly. "All my accounts seem to be having some sort of technical issue. You'll have to find another way."

Their faces fell. The gala was the biggest social event of the season. To be seen there was everything. To be a no-show after boasting about it online would be a social death sentence.

"Please, Olivia," Ethan begged, his voice dropping to a desperate whisper. "Just for tonight. It's important for... for the family's image."

"My family's image is my concern," I said, my voice turning to steel. "And right now, my only concern is resting. Have a good evening."

I closed the door in their shocked faces and locked it. On the other side, I could hear Sophia's rising tide of panicked shrieks and Ethan's useless, placating murmurs. The trap was set. Now it was time for it to spring.