After my husband threw me out of the house after our divorce, I took the old bank card my father had left behind and used it at a branch in the U.S., sending the whole bank lobby into a stir as the staff hurriedly called the manager over, and the words “Look at the name on this account!” revealed a family secret I had never known.

“I know I was very wrong,” Quacy continued. His eyes got misty. His performance was perfect. “Aniya, she is just a toy. I was pressured. Zel, business is hard. And you—you were busy with your mother. I felt lonely.”

“So it was my fault? Was it my fault?” Zelica asked. Her voice was calm.

“No, no, it was my fault,” he rushed to correct himself. “I was blind. I didn’t see the diamond I had until I saw you in the meeting room the other day. I realized.”

“Realized what?”

“How fantastic you are. We can be the best team, Zel. We can start over.”

He leaned in.

“I’ve already left Aniya. She’s already out of the apartment.”

It was a lie. Aniya was shopping with his credit card at that very moment.

“We will dominate Atlanta,” he whispered. “You with your land, me with my expertise. Forget Seek. You don’t need him. You only need me.”