Chapter 1

The Divorce

The small law office smelled faintly of dust and old paper. A flickering lamp in the corner gave off a weak, tired glow, casting shadows across the stacks of files lining the shelves.I sat across from Mr. Ricci, an older man with sharp glasses and sharper instincts.“You’re sure about this, Mrs. Russo?” he asked quietly, hands folded over the folder in front of him.The name sounded strange, like it belonged to someone else.“Yes,” I said, my voice steady even though my pulse wasn’t. “I want the divorce filed quietly. I don’t want my husband or his people knowing until everything’s finalized.”Ricci gave me a long, measuring look, but he didn’t question me further. Instead, he slid the paperwork towards me.