His investors were turning away in disgust. His fiancée was gone. His accounts were frozen. The federal agents were stepping onto the dais, handcuffs already unclipped.

He locked eyes with me. The arrogance was gone, replaced by crawling desperation.

He stumbled forward and dropped to his knees at the edge of the stage, ignoring the glass cutting into his trousers.

“Vivienne… Viv, please.” Tears streamed down his face. “I was out of my mind under the pressure. I made mistakes — terrible mistakes! But I love you! I always loved you!

Please, call them off. Think about Sophia! Think about our daughter! You can’t let her father go to prison!”

I felt a tug on my coat.