His team called in legal support. A lawyer named Rebecca arrived—direct, serious, carrying a black folder, with the expression of someone who had seen far too many stories just like this one.

“Mrs. Harper,” she said, “this isn’t just a dispute between spouses. We may be looking at fraud, financial abuse, and misuse of personal information.”

Emily felt ashamed. The same old shame Ryan had planted inside her with years of small, poisonous phrases. You’re crazy. You don’t know how to do anything.

You’ll fall apart without me.

The lawyer continued. “There’s something else. The person who posted your name wasn’t just another passenger.” She placed a screenshot on the table. The account belonged to a woman named Kelsey Collins.

Ryan’s cousin. She worked for a travel agency, with access to passenger flight information.