“I saw the transfer from my overseas deployment account before the gala,” I continued, my voice level, assessing him now not as a husband but as a target.

“That’s how she saved her parents’ house, isn’t it? The grand gesture of loyalty you praised. And that emerald you bought your mother. All of it paid for with my combat pay.”

“That money was sitting there doing nothing!” Daniel snapped, stepping closer, his shadow falling over the bed. “You’ve been hoarding it in some untouchable government account since your little sandbox tours.

Her parents needed it. My mother deserved a reward. I put it to good use.”

“You forged my authorization to bypass a federal military bank lock,” I said. Not an accusation — a fact. I needed him to confirm it out loud.

He leaned in, his face inches from mine, breath smelling of expensive mints and entitlement, and smiled — a cruel, feral thing.