The audacity of it steadied me rather than shaking me.

At nine o’clock the firm’s managing partner, Harrison Vance, took the stage to present the annual financial report and a slideshow honoring the firm’s top performers, and Julian stood near the front with a glass of champagne, glowing, certain the night was his.

“And now,” Harrison said into the microphone, “a special presentation, prepared by the family of our senior audit partner, Julian Sterling.” Julian’s face flickered — a small confusion, the first crack — and he turned and found me in the crowd.

And I gave him a sweet, graceful nod, and I raised my glass to him, the way a proud wife would.