Emma's POV

"Counting on it." That dangerous smile was back on Marcus's face. "Time to show him what he gave up."

An hour later, I could barely recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. The blue dress was absolutely stunning, elegant and bold all at the same time. The diamonds were real this time because Marcus had insisted on it, and they caught the light like tiny stars scattered across my skin. My hair was pinned up high, showing off my neck, and I noticed Marcus's eyes kept drifting there whenever he thought I wasn't paying attention.

"You're staring," I said as we rode down in the elevator together.

"I'm appreciating." He straightened his bow tie carefully. "There's a difference between the two."

"Is there, though?"

The elevator made a soft dinging sound as we reached the ground floor. Marcus offered me his arm like we were in some old movie. "Ready to make your ex cry?"

The party was held at a huge mansion in Winnetka, one of those places that looked like it belonged in a magazine. There was valet parking outside, champagne being carried around on silver trays, and people everywhere who looked like they owned half the city. I recognized a lot of the guests from Ryan's company events that I used to attend with him.

The whispers started right away, just like I knew they would.

"Isn't that Ryan's wife?"

"With Marcus Blackwood?"

"I heard he bought Thompson Marketing."

"She certainly upgraded from Ryan."

Marcus kept his hand on my back the whole time we walked through the party. It felt protective, like he was making sure everyone knew I was with him. He introduced me to every single person as his girlfriend, not as Ryan's ex-wife. That difference seemed really important to him, and honestly, it made me feel better too.

Then I saw them standing by the bar. Ryan was wearing his best tuxedo, the one I had actually picked out for him years ago. Sophia was next to him in a white dress, holding her hand on her stomach even though she wasn't showing yet. They were talking to other people, but the moment Ryan's eyes found me in the crowd, everything changed.

His face went completely white, then turned bright red.

"Showtime," Marcus whispered in my ear. "Just follow my lead and you'll be fine."

He guided me straight toward them, stopping close enough to be polite but not close enough to be friendly. The tension in the air felt thick and heavy.

"Ryan." Marcus's voice was like ice. "Sophia. This is quite a lovely party."

"Mr. Blackwood." Ryan's voice actually cracked a little when he spoke. "I didn't know you'd be here."

"David invited me. We're old friends." The lie came out so smoothly that I almost believed it myself. "You know Emma, of course."

"What are you doing?" Ryan asked me, and he sounded angry.

"Having a lovely time with my boyfriend." The word felt strange coming out of my mouth, but also powerful and real.

Sophia's eyes went right to my diamonds and stayed there. "Those are real, aren't they?"

"Everything about Emma is real," Marcus said calmly. "Unlike some people in this room."

"You can't just—" Ryan started to say.

"Can't what? Date a beautiful, brilliant woman you threw away like she was nothing?" Marcus pulled me closer to his side. "That's your loss, and my gain."

"She's still my wife!"

"Not for long." I surprised myself by speaking up, and my voice was steady. "Sign the divorce papers my lawyer sent you. Stop stalling."

"Twenty thousand is generous for someone like you—"

Marcus actually laughed out loud. It wasn't a friendly laugh. "Twenty thousand? For three entire years of her life? Half your assets is what's accurate here, Ryan."

"She didn't contribute anything to my success!"

"Her designs built your entire reputation. Her connections got you important contracts. Her father's business associates opened doors that would have stayed closed without her." Marcus's voice was dangerous and quiet. "Or did you think I wouldn't investigate who you really are?"

Ryan stepped forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "You don't know anything about me—"

"I know everything." Marcus didn't even flinch or move backward. "Including the Jenkins contract you got credit for, the one built on Emma's eco-restaurant design. The one that got you promoted and gave you a big bonus. That's intellectual property theft, Ryan. It's serious."

All the color drained from Ryan's face again, and he looked like he might actually be sick.

"Marcus," I said quietly, touching his arm. "Not here. Not like this."

He looked down at me, and his whole expression softened and changed. "You're right. We're here to dance and have fun, not to deal with people like him."

He led me away to the dance floor, and I could feel Ryan and Sophia staring at us as we left them behind.

"How did you even know about the Jenkins contract?" I asked him as we started to dance.

"I told you before. I know everything about you and about Ryan." He spun me around in a beautiful waltz. "Ryan's been stealing from you since the day you got married. Every promotion, every single bonus, every success was built on your work, not his."

"But why do you care so much? Why would you go to all this trouble for me?"

"Because—" He stopped dancing for a second, and his jaw clenched tight. He looked like he was fighting with himself about something.

"Because what? Tell me."

Before he could answer me, someone called out from across the dance floor. "Marcus? Is that Marcus Blackwood?"

We both turned around. A man was standing at the edge of the dance floor. He was tall with silver hair, and he had Marcus's eyes and Marcus's jawline, but he was about thirty years older.

Marcus went completely stiff against me.

"Hello, son," the man said. "It's been ten years since we've seen each other."

And suddenly, all the pieces I'd been wondering about and missing started falling into place like a puzzle.