“And the marriage?” I asked.

Vance looked at me, his expression turning professional and calm.

“We file the divorce petition on Monday morning,” he said.

“A fault-based filing,” I said.

“Yes,” Vance agreed. “With these criminal charges, he won’t have a leg to stand on.”

“We will ensure he receives nothing from the marital estate,” he said.

“Every asset your mother left you will remain protected.”

I nodded, looking out the window as the police cars pulled away.

The red taillights disappeared around the curve of the road.

The house was suddenly very quiet, except for the sound of Linda’s weeping.

I walked into the kitchen to escape the sound.

The granite countertops were cold under my fingers.

For the first time in months, the air in the house felt clean.

I stood by the sink, looking at the empty garden outside.

Then, on the counter behind me, Ethan’s backup tablet began to hum.

The screen lit up, casting a pale blue glow across the dark surface.

A new notification appeared on the display.

It was an alert from an offshore portal I had never seen before.