Page 221 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

“I was supposed to get close to Dante and convince him to sign with Wald.”

“But Ms. Ivanov’s body was never found, and Mr. Ivanov refused to accept her death.”

She looks away.

“Who were you taking orders from?”

She hesitates. Then decides to drag them all down with her.

“Wald.”

Her voice shakes.

“He wanted Valeria’s research at any cost. They offered me half a million euros if Dante signed with them quickly.”

“So you started seducing him… for money.”

Bianca lowers her eyes.

“At first, it wasn’t about the money.”

Her voice nearly breaks.

“I really loved him. I still do.”

She lets the woman I love—injured and unconscious—be thrown overboard and calls that love.

A cold rage rises inside me, so violent it almost makes me dizzy.

Andrea tightens his grip on my shoulder.

A reminder: not here and not now.

Sanders slowly rubs a hand over the back of his neck before closing the file.

A few seconds later, he joins us in the observation room.

“Between the suspicious financial transfers, Gaspard Peltier’s testimony, and hers,” he says, “we have Wald. It’s only a matter of days now.”

“And her?” I ask in a voice I barely recognize.

“She cooperated. The prosecutor will take that into account.”

He pauses.

“But don’t fool yourself. Even with a deal, she’s going to prison.”

60. Cooking Lesson

Valeria

Saturday, February 4

The investigation into Wald is drawing to a close.

Each week brings a new wave of evidence. Financial transfers have been traced one after another. Shell companies are collapsing. Testimonies are converging. Financial authorities across several countries are now coordinating their efforts.

Meanwhile, Inspector Sanders is working relentlessly to secure the final warrants and lock the case down once and for all.