Chapter Three: The Truth Unfolds Kelly’s voice came through the door, frantic and low. “Jess, we have a serious problem. Ernest just told me he got fired.”…

Chapter Four: Strategic Positioning “Play it for me,” Patricia said. Ernest pressed play and held the phone to the speaker. Heard Kelly’s voice fill Patricia’s office six…

Chapter Five: The Longest Night Kelly came downstairs around 8:00. Her face was carefully arranged into sympathetic concern. The performance was impressive — Ernest had to give…

Chapter Six: The Morning Move Ernest woke at 6:00. Kelly was still asleep. He moved through the dark house like a ghost, gathering the documents he’d need….

Chapter Seven: The Waiting Game Ernest went home and continued the act. He applied to a few jobs online — fake applications for positions he had no…

Chapter Eight: The Reveal “You — you can’t just — we didn’t even talk about this. You got fired two days ago and now you’re divorcing me?”…

Chapter Nine: The Confrontation Ernest didn’t go home that night. He texted Kelly that he was staying at Marcus’s place — which was partially true. Marcus had…

Chapter Ten: The Settlement Kelly stood up abruptly. Paced to the window. “You humiliated me. Do you know what it felt like to have some stranger show…

Chapter Eleven: The Aftermath She didn’t sign that night. Ernest hadn’t expected her to. He moved his belongings out of the townhouse over the weekend — Marcus…