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Elijah’s arms tighten around me comfortingly. “You alright, little fighter?”

“Yes. Thanks for your help.”

“You did it all yourself.” Elijah presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m just here to catch you every time.”

Leaning back into him, I feel assured that whatever comes next, I’ll be okay. With Elijah by my side, I can do anything.

“But… Now…”

“No.” Elijah glances at his watch. “It’s done.”

Suddenly, the ballroom erupts into chaos as four black-clad people in tactical gear stride through the crowd. Before anyone can react, two of them grab Oliver’s arms and force them behind his back.

“What the hell?” Oliver’s face purples with rage as he tries to jerk out of their hold. “Let me go! Do you know who I am?”

One of the SWAT members leans in close to Oliver’s ear. Whatever he’s saying makes Oliver go pale, his mouth snapping shut mid-protest. His eyes dart around the room wildly before landing on me and Elijah. The pure hatred in his glare makes me flinch.

“Oliver Dorrance, you are under arrest for fraud, extortion, and domestic abuse,” the squad leader says. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney.”

I turn to Elijah with wide eyes. “What’s happening? I thought the plan was to get evidence against Oliver tonight, not arrest him.”

“Let’s say I decided to accelerate the timeline a bit and make it a bit more… dramatic.”

The other two SWAT members lead Oliver out of the hall. He doesn’t struggle or say a word, his face pale.

Just like that. The man who had tormented me for so long was finally facing justice. I should feel relieved, triumphant even.

But as I watch Oliver being dragged away in handcuffs, all I feel is an odd numbness.

“It’s really over?”

Elijah smoothes a strand of hair back from my face. “It’s really over. I promise.”

The truth hits me fully, then. I cling to Elijah, burying my face in his chest. His arms wrap around me, steady and secure.

“How?”

“The bank statements you mentioned. He was hoarding money illegally under your name. He didn’t know what to do after you filed for divorce and wouldn’t sign everything he put in front of you.”

My eyes dart around. “That’s why he delayed the divorce?”

“Yes, he was searching for a way to get it under his name without needing you.”

He knew the entire time that I could destroy him by finalizing the divorce, and that’s why he kept stalling, trying to control me.

“He needed me.”

“Yes, seeing you with me. Happy. He probably realized it won’t be soon until I move the divorce forward.”

He cups my cheek. “And I would’ve. But now, his options are limited. I’ve already set things in motion to expose the accounts and transfer the money back to you, where it belongs. You’ll never see him again.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “You did that? But how did you even find out about it?”

“Remember the night you were at Oliver’s and came to me right after?”

“Yeah.”

“The two guys who got in the elevator with you.”

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