When my four sons were finally old enough for preschool, I arrived at the school office with my marriage certificate and their birth certificates, ready to sign them up.

But the lady at the counter frowned and said, "These documents don't check out. According to the system, your kids don't even exist."

I felt as if the floor had dropped out from under me. I remembered when Sheldon Clem and I got married—he was the one who handled all the paperwork, the birth registrations, everything.

I never imagined that when I tracked him down with our four boys, he'd be holding his childhood sweetheart in his arms, with her little girl snuggled against him.

And then we heard him sweet-talking her right in front of us.

"Don't be mad, babe. I've got everything set up for us overseas. Gigi is going to the most expensive private school, and you'll be living in the nicest penthouse downtown.

"Sure, she gave me four sons, but all my love and money are with you. I only kept her around because I felt sorry for her.

"What else do you need? My will's already signed. Everything goes to you and Gigi."

Riley Anderson pouted, smug and satisfied. "If you don't love her, then she's the other woman, not me. She's got no right to fight me for anything!"

So he never went bankrupt.

When we got back home, Sheldon acted as if nothing had happened. "Honey, I've found this amazing project overseas, so I won't have time to come home much. I'll need you to hold down the fort at home."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

If that was how he wanted to play this, then fine. I'd make sure he really went broke, and then I'd find my boys a new father.

Sheldon Clem froze for a second, as if he hadn't expected me to agree that easily.

I turned and walked into the kitchen to start dinner for the kids.

Sheldon trailed after me. "So… the project needs a lot of startup cash. I already used all our savings."

"Alright," I said without looking up.

That was his style—make the choice first, then tell me after.

The difference was that before, I thought he was taking risks for this family. Now I knew he'd been bleeding me dry for Riley Anderson, his childhood sweetheart.

"I want to refinance the house, too," he added.

I stopped what I was doing, my hands frozen in the sink, and turned to stare straight at him.

"You really want your four three-year-old sons to end up homeless?"

This house wasn't much, just a small three-bedroom, but it was ours—the one we'd fought for, saved for, and sacrificed for.

The mortgage wasn't even close to being paid off. His name was on the deed because when we first bought it, I had been out of town on business. He'd told me it would be easier that way, with him making the payments.

Back then, I thought we were in it for life. But it turned out to be his scheme all along.

"I already rented a place for you and the boys. It's only temporary. You've always been so supportive, honey. You'll back me up this time, too, right?"

His tone was light and casual. He didn't even sound the least bit guilty.

"Where exactly did you rent?" I asked.

"A basement apartment across town."

He said it as if it didn't matter, as if shoving his wife and kids into a rundown place wasn't a big deal.

If he wanted to burn every bridge behind him, then I'd let him.

"Okay. Whatever you say."

Sheldon grinned, reaching to pull me close. "That's why I love you. Marrying you was the best decision I've made in my whole damn life."

I stepped back, turned sideways, and kept preparing the ingredients. "I'm busy, so don't get in the way. Go check on the boys."

That night, after Sheldon fell asleep, I slipped his briefcase open and pulled out the files he never thought I'd touch. It contained everything—the secrets, the numbers, the dirt. I copied it all onto a flash drive.

The next morning, I set up a meeting with his biggest rival.

Ken Clayton leaned back in his chair, giving me this slow, suspicious look. "Is this some kind of setup? Everybody in this town knows you and Sheldon are ride-or-die."

He refused to believe I would sell Sheldon out.

I slid the flash drive across the table. "Check it for yourself. You'll see."

He didn't pick it up right away and just stared at me, half curious, half unconvinced. "So, what's the catch? What do you want out of this?"

"I want him flat broke," I said. "And I want half your profit when it happens."

Ken studied me for what felt like forever, then finally nodded. "Alright. Deal."

He tilted his head, smirking. "You're not scared I'll double-cross you?"

"I'm not."

Because honestly, what could be worse than sleeping next to a man who had already betrayed you?

Ken seemed to get it, and he didn't push further.

On the way back, I saw Sheldon holding Riley's little girl, Gigi Anderson, in his arms as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

My four boys trailed behind, their faces blotchy from crying, their eyes locked on the ice cream cone in her tiny hand.

"Daddy, I want one, too."

"Daddy, please, buy us one," they begged, tears rolling down their cheeks.

Gigi, only two, waved her cone in the air, grinning as if she'd won some kind of prize. My sons' cries got louder.

But Sheldon just frowned at them, his voice sharp. "Boys don't cry like babies. You're embarrassing me. If you scare Gigi like that again, I'll whip you."

He pointed at the cone. "And that's for girls. Boys don't need sweets. Don't go begging for what's not yours. You need to toughen up."

That was Sheldon's parenting—hard and stingy, never gentle.

The boys shrank back and swallowed their sobs, afraid to let another sound slip.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, the pain in my chest stabbing like a blade.

I walked over and forced a smile. "Don't cry. I'll buy you ice cream."

Sheldon's eyes widened. He clearly hadn't expected to see me.

He cleared his throat and put on his usual act. "Riley's a mess, always dumping her kid on me. I told her I don't have time, but she never listens. The only reason I help at all is because our parents were close back in the day. Otherwise, I'd never do it."

He'd been badmouthing Riley for months, making her sound useless and annoying. And I had believed him. But it turned out to be all smoke and mirrors.

"Daddy," Gigi suddenly called out, soft and sweet.

Sheldon froze for a second, panic flickering in his eyes before he forced a laugh. "Kids repeat whatever they hear. Probably picked it up from our boys."

I bit my tongue, refusing to start a scene in front of the children.

Instead, I took my sons by the hands and walked them to the stand. "Four cones, please."

I'd just paid when Sheldon marched over, snatched the cones out of my hands, and tossed them straight into the trash.

"Lizzie, do you think I can't afford ice cream for our sons?" he snapped, his voice loud enough to draw stares from people passing by.

"They're boys! They don't need to be spoiled like that. It's not like we're swimming in money! You can't just give them whatever they want. That's not love—that's weakness. They're gonna grow up thinking everything will go according to their wishes. You're hurting them, not helping."

The crowd glanced between us curiously, eating up the drama as if it was free entertainment.

"Our boys are only three years old—"

I was ready to let Sheldon have it, but before the words left my mouth, all four of my sons wrapped their arms around me.

"Mommy, don't fight with Daddy. I don't need ice cream."

"Mommy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked Daddy for it. Please don't fight."

Their little voices, so heavy with guilt they should never have carried, cut through my anger like nothing else could. The more grown-up they acted, the deeper my guilt sank. What kind of mother would pick a father like Sheldon for her children?

Then Riley's daughter let out a wail, loud enough to turn heads.

Sheldon's whole body tensed. "What's wrong, Gigi?

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart. I'm here. I'll always protect you."

He cupped her cheeks as if she were made of glass, brushing her tears away with a tenderness I'd never once seen him give our sons. His eyes glowed with a love so fierce it made me sick.

So that was it. His heart was gone. And when a man had given up on his family, he would even trample his children underfoot.

Gigi wouldn't stop crying. Her finger pointed straight at me.

"Daddy, she's mean! She's a bad lady!"

Sheldon hushed her quickly, panic all over his face. "No, no, don't cry. I'm right here."

Then his gaze snapped toward me, sharp and accusing. "Lizzie, what the hell is wrong with you? She's just a kid. Can't you have some compassion? You scared her half to death. Apologize to her now!"

His tone wasn't a request. It was an order.

I balled my fists, my chest burning. "If I didn't know better, I'd think she was your daughter. Our boys cry all the time, and I've never seen you look at them like that."

Sheldon frowned, as if he couldn't recognize me anymore. "You're being ridiculous. Of course, it's different. She's someone else's child. If I'm taking care of her, I have to be responsible. You scared her, so just say you're sorry."

Seeing that I refused to move, he shot his hand out and clamped around my wrist, squeezing so hard that it left a red mark. "I said, apologize. Do you hear me?"

Before I could jerk free, Riley appeared. She tapped his arm lightly, her voice playful but edged with something sharper.

"Sheldon, what are you doing? Don't embarrass your wife out here."

Like a switch flipped, his whole face softened.

Riley's eyes met mine for a quick second, flashing with challenge before she plastered on a sweet smile. She looped her arm through mine as if we were girlfriends. "Lizzie, don't take it to heart. You know Sheldon's temper. I'll talk to him later."

Then she turned to him, mock-scolding as if it was all some inside joke. "Sheldon, if you keep treating your wife like that, I'll make you sleep on the couch!"

Sheldon laughed, almost boyish. He said obediently, "I know, I know. I was just upset. I didn't want Gigi scared. That's all."

How pathetic.

Legally, he was my husband. But one word from another woman, and he folded like paper.