Page 219 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

Growing old behind bars. Or watching her child grow up without her.

Sanders waits.

He lets the fear settle in. It works.

“If I talk…” she finally says in a dry voice, “what do I get?”

Her lawyer straightens abruptly.

“Madam, no.”

“Shut up.”

She doesn’t even turn toward him. Her eyes stay fixed on Sanders.

“That depends on what you have to offer,” he replies calmly.

“Full cooperation. Names. Payments. The boat. Everything.”

Beside me, Andrea exhales slowly.

“And in exchange?” Sanders asks.

“I want a deal. I’m pregnant. I’m not carrying my child in prison.”

Her lawyer drags a weary hand across his face.

“Madam…”

“I said shut up.”

Sanders folds his hands together.

“I never promise what I can’t guarantee. But substantial cooperation will be passed on to the prosecutor. And it will carry weight.”

It’s the best offer she’ll get and she knows it.

“Fine.”

She closes her eyes for a second. When she opens them again, something has changed.

It isn’t remorse. It’s survival instinct.

“Peltier approached me,” she finally says. “We were having an affair.”

“And he learned about NRX-889 through you?”

Bianca hesitates for a second before admitting:

“Yes. It was through Valeria that I realized its potential.”

My hands curl into fists before I even realize it.

“He saw it as an opportunity,” she continues. “He introduced me to Wald. They offered me two hundred thousand euros if I helped them. At first, I was only supposed to pressure Valeria into signing with Ciphera Corp.”

Hearing my wife’s name in her mouth makes me sick.

Beside me, Andrea slightly turns his head. He knows I’m two seconds away from walking into that room.