Chapter 1 - The Stranger in My Life
The ballroom was so quiet that I could hear the ice melting in the water glasses.
I stared at the man I had promised to marry.
Nathan looked completely horrified, his hands raised as if to ward off a physical blow.
"Emily, I can explain," he stammered, stepping toward me.
I took a sharp step back, my heart pounding violently against my ribs.
Dr. Hart crossed her arms, her sharp gaze shifting between me and my fiancé.
"Mr. Vance, your security clearance at Harrison Medical Group is classified under executive investigations," she stated coldly.
My mother gasped, dropping her phone onto the carpeted floor.
Allison was still sobbing at the podium, but nobody was paying attention to her anymore.
"You work for my company?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of rage and betrayal.
"Not exactly," Nathan pleaded, his eyes begging for my understanding.
"I am an independent corporate auditor, hired by the board of directors last year to investigate internal embezzlement."
"And you thought sleeping with the leading VP candidate was a great investigative tactic?" I fired back.
The guests began whispering, the scandalous details too juicy for our wealthy suburban neighbors to ignore.
My father marched over, his face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
"Emily, you have ruined your mother's anniversary with this theatrics," he hissed.
I turned to him, utterly disgusted by his misplaced priorities.
"My sister stole my identity, my mother gave away my passwords, and my fiancé is a spy, but this is my fault?"
Dr. Hart intervened before my father could slap me, stepping squarely between us.
"The resignation sent from Dr. Miller's account is suspended pending a full cybersecurity audit," the CEO announced.
She looked directly at my sister and my parents.
"As for Allison, you are officially terminated from Harrison Medical Group, effective immediately."
Allison screamed, collapsing onto a nearby chair as my mother rushed to comfort her.
May you like
I did not wait to hear another lie.
I grabbed my purse, turned my back on the family that had betrayed me, and walked out of the ballroom.
