The arrogant, self-assured man I had been married to for five years was gone.

In his place stood a broken executive who had gambled his life’s work on a lie.

“The tokens, Serena,” I said, stepping forward.

She looked at me, her gaze lingering on my tailored wool coat.

“Ah, the brilliant engineer,” she murmured.

“Always the practical one.”

“They are in the bag, Claire.”

“But they won’t save his company.”

“The debt is too deep.”

“I don’t care about his company,” I said.

“I care about my patents.”

“The structural algorithms you tried to license to the London firm are mine.”

“They were registered under my name before the divorce.”

Serena’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She realized her leverage was slipping.

“I have a flight to catch,” she said, reaching for her bag.

Julian stepped into her path, his hand resting on the handle of her suitcase.

“Not with those files,” Julian said.

“The airport police are waiting at the gate.”

“We can resolve this quietly here, or we can let them handle the transfer of stolen property.”