That was the unguarded door.

I know better now.

Auditing the people you love is not the opposite of trusting them; it is what makes trust safe to give.

The people who deserve your trust do not mind being checked, because they have nothing to hide.

It is only the ones who are stealing from you who need you to believe that looking closely is the same thing as not loving them.

My family had taught me that lesson to protect themselves.

I finally learned it to protect me.

The door to the suite was ajar.

I had my hand halfway to it, a smile already arranged on my face, when I heard Vance’s voice through the gap, and I stopped.

“Daniel thinks the baby is his,” Rebecca said.

“I can’t keep pretending anymore.”

“Just a few more weeks.” Vance’s voice, low and soothing, the voice he used on me.

“As soon as Valerie liquidates her corporate stock, and I move the rest of the funds, we’re gone.

You, me, and our son.”