Chapter 17

After they hung up, Emma scrolled through the day’s coverage, unable to resist despite knowing better. Most articles were speculative garbage, but a few raised legitimate questions about the appearance of impropriety—the optics of trading her ex-husband while dating another team executive.

She was about to put her phone away when a text arrived from a Seattle number she didn’t recognize: Thought you should see this. He’s already making waves here. -V

Attached was a screenshot of Jack at what appeared to be a Seattle nightclub, surrounded by women, clearly not maintaining the sobriety he’d so earnestly promised to uphold.

Veronica Wells, Emma realized. Somehow the supermodel was still keeping tabs on Jack. The timestamp showed the photo was from last night—his first in Seattle, fresh off claiming unfair treatment by Boston management.

Emma didn’t respond to the text, but she saved the photo. Not for leverage or revenge, but as a reminder that Jack’s contrition