She Gave His Mistress Her Wedding Ring Without Crying—Then the Billionaire Learned What His Pregnant Wife Had Quietly Taken Back

Tessa Ward sat across from me in the heavily secured conference room of Silas’s law firm.

She looked nothing like the polished, arrogant mistress who had sneered at me during the gala. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, she wore zero makeup, and her hands shook violently as she clutched a paper cup of water.

“I didn't want to come here,” Tessa whispered, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Yet here you are,” I said smoothly, leaning back in my leather chair, my hands resting protectively over my stomach. “I assume you received the subpoena from the SEC regarding your involvement in the Cayman wire transfers.”

Tessa squeezed her eyes shut. A single tear tracked down her pale cheek. “He told me the money was his. He said he was just moving it to protect it from the taxes. I didn't know he was stealing from the corporate reserve. I swear to you, Avery.”

“You helped him draft emails claiming I was mentally unfit to lead my own company,” I reminded her, my voice turning to ice. “You watched him gaslight a pregnant woman, and you actively participated in the character assassination because you wanted my life.”

“I’ll testify against him,” she blurted out, looking up with wild, desperate eyes. “I’ll give the feds everything. His passwords, his secret ledgers, the burner phones. I’ll ruin him. Just please, Avery... tell your lawyers to grant me immunity. I can't go to prison.”

I stared at the woman who had kissed my husband. I felt no jealousy. I only felt a profound, overwhelming pity for her stupidity.

“I don't need your testimony, Tessa,” I said softly. “I already have his ledgers. I already have the passwords. You have absolutely nothing of value to offer me.”