Chapter 1

I spent fifteen years working myself to the bone, handing every dollar I earned to my husband, Derek, to fund his PhD and launch his career as a professor.

Then one day, I walked into his office and found his student, Sienna, halfdressed and sitting in his lap.

He just looked away and said nothing when she called me "the housekeeper."

I walked out without a word. Then I enrolled in community college.

One month later, at his tenure review hearing, I stood at the podium as a firstyear student giving a speech while the screen behind me scrolled through fifteen years of bank transfers and photos of him with his girlfriend.

I smiled and asked the room:

"A professor built on his wife's blood and sweat who's also sleeping with his own student does he deserve to stand in a classroom?"

I pushed open the door to my husband Derek's office. He was sitting behind his desk.

With a girl in his lap.

She was straddling him, clothes disheveled, cheeks flushed pink.

"Professor," she cooed, "I really don't understand this part."

My footsteps made them both look up.

Derek shoved the girl off him like he'd been electrocuted.

"Lynn I mean, Sarah?" He stumbled over my name. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer.

The girl turned to look at me. Her eyes dropped to the shopping bag in my hand the one holding the dress shirt Derek needed for his lecture tomorrow.

"Oh, are you the housekeeper?" She crossed her legs and tilted her chin toward the water cooler. "Get me some water. Warm, please."

I looked at Derek.

He looked away. Said nothing.

I set the shopping bag by the door, walked to the water cooler, filled a cup with warm water, and placed it on the desk in front of her.

She didn't even glance at me. She turned back to Derek with a smile.

"So, Professor should we keep going?"

Derek finally spoke. His voice came out rough.

"Sienna. That's enough for today. I have something to take care of."

Sienna slowly gathered her things. As she passed me, she stopped and leaned in, studying my face.

"Huh. You kind of look like the Professor's relative or something." She paused, smiled, and walked out.

The door clicked shut.

Derek crossed the room quickly, reaching for my hand.

"Sarah, just let me explain"

I stepped back.

"What relative?" I asked.

He froze.

"No you've got it wrong." The words came out fast. "Sienna's father is on the board of trustees. I have to keep her happy. She was just here about her thesis, we were looking over her paper"

"Are you coming home tonight?" I asked.

"Yes, of course." He sounded almost desperate. "I don't have anything tonight. We can sit down and talk, really talk"

"That's okay." I reached down and picked up the shopping bag.

I opened the door.

I looked back at him one last time.

Fifteen years.

I'd carried him from a broke college student to a PhD. He'd gotten a teaching position, made associate professor, and now he was one step away from full professor.

I had washed dishes, delivered food, stocked shelves at a grocery store. During his PhD years, I worked three jobs at the same time.

His tuition, his living expenses, money for textbooks and faculty dinners every single dollar had come from me.

Now he was a professor at a prestigious university.

And I was "some relative from back home."

My voice was very calm.

"Derek. Your tenure review hearing is next month, right?"

He blinked. "How do you know about that?"

"You left the paperwork on your desk. I saw it." I paused. "Good luck preparing."

I closed the door.

I walked to the stairwell and stopped at the landing. I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.

The recording indicator was lit up red.

2 minutes, 47 seconds.

I hit save and named the file: “office.”

Then I opened my contacts and scrolled to a number I hadn't called in years an old coworker who'd eventually opened a print shop near the university district.

She picked up.

"Janet? It's me, Sarah," I said. "Quick question can your shop make copies of bank statements? Years' worth of them?"