Chapter 1 The Lie of a Hero's Rescue

The day I saw Jared Stanley's interview, I filed for divorce and moved out of the perfectly maintained home I'd shared with him for three years.

In that interview, Jared said his biggest regret in life was that, in a life-or-death situation, he instinctively protected what he called his most "precious national asset."

The "asset" he protected wasn't me, his wife. It was his "fragile" colleague, Bailee Brooks.

Two days later, at the global press conference for the G20 summit.

The same renowned war correspondent asked me the same question.

"Ms. Quinn, as a top-tier simultaneous interpreter, what would you say is the professional principle you are most proud of?"

I looked directly at Jared sitting in the front row.

"True professionalism is knowing that my husband risked his life to protect his mistress, and still being able to calmly, as the lead interpreter, accurately convey the commands that would ultimately save him."

"Kathy, are you seeing this?"

My best friend Joyce Clarke's voice came through the phone speaker, tight with anger.

I was packing a suitcase, my phone on speaker.

On the TV, Jared sat in the National Broadcaster studio, wearing that deep blue suit I'd ironed countless times.

The host looked at him with admiration. "Minister Stanley, the situation was so dangerous. Why did you rush to protect Bailee?"

Jared gazed earnestly into the camera. "On the diplomatic front line, every colleague is a precious national asset. Protecting them is my instinct."

The live chat exploded.

"A true hero injured for the country!"

"Jared is the kind of man to marry!"

"This is what a diplomat's responsibility looks like!"

I let out a cold laugh, shoving the last shirt into the suitcase.

"Kathy, are you okay?" Joyce's voice trembled.

"I'm fine."

I turned off the TV, and the room went silent.

Three years of marriage, summed up by his single word, "instinct."

The "national asset" he protected wasn't me, the lead interpreter who held my own against seasoned diplomats at the negotiation table.

It was Bailee, the one who "fainted" when the gunshots started.

I opened a drawer and took out an encrypted flash drive.

On it was the complete audio recording from the Mayland hostage crisis.

Including the entire process of Jared violating operational discipline, almost getting everyone killed for his "heroic rescue."

My phone rang.

Jared's name flashed on the screen.

I declined the call.

It rang again.

I hung up again.

When it rang a third time, I answered.

"Kathy, where are you?" He sounded impatient.

"Moving out."

"Moving out? What nonsense is this? Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when you get home."

"There's nothing to talk about." I slid the divorce papers into my bag. "I just wanted to tell you I've filed for divorce."

Dead silence on the other end.

It took Jared ten seconds to speak. "Have you lost your mind?"

"No." I dragged my suitcase toward the door. "Perfectly sane."

"Kathy! Do you even know what time it is? The G20 Summit is about to start. What kind of tantrum are you throwing?"

A tantrum?

I stopped.

"Jared, during the Mayland crisis, I worked non-stop for 72 hours, translating emergency consultations for thirteen countries."

"I know you worked hard..."

"You know nothing," I cut him off. "Do you have any idea what it felt like? Listening in my headset as Captain Walsh gave the order to rescue you?"

"Kathy... "

"Do you know my hand was shaking when I translated 'Evacuate immediately, target injured' into Arabish?"

Jared was silent.

"Now the whole internet is praising you as a hero," I said, pushing open the door. The hallway light was harsh. "So let me ask you, hero. When you were saving the damsel, did you even think about your wife?"

"I..."

"Forget it." I pressed the elevator button. "No need to answer. I already know."

The moment I hung up, it felt like the whole world went quiet.

The elevator doors opened. I wheeled my suitcase inside.

The woman in the mirror looked calm, her eyes determined.

At 30, I, Kathy Quinn, was finally going to live for myself.