building a public image as an untouchable titan of regional commerce.
Yet within a single morning, that entire legacy had been exposed as a hollow house of cards. “What is going to happen to us?” Darla asked, breaking the silence with a trembling, hesitant voice.
Evan did not look up at once from his screen, finishing a note to his legal team first. He closely locked the tablet, placed it flat upon his knee, and turned his full attention toward her.
“That depends entirely on how much truth remains between you and your husband,” Evan said honestly. “The corporate theft is fully documented, but the extent of your personal involvement remains an open question.”
“I only wanted a comfortable life,” Darla whispered, staring down at her diamond-encrusted wedding band. “I grew up with nothing, Mr. Cole. I was terrified of ever having to go back to being invisible.”
Evan looked
