Back at the villa, I went straight to the bedroom.

Mark’s iPad was sitting there.

Unlocked.

Careless.

Arrogant.

Passcode?

Chloe’s birthday.

Of course it was.

I opened the messages.

And there it was.

Six months of betrayal.

“Can’t wait to leave her.”
“She’s boring.”
“We need her money for the house.”

And from my mother:

“I’ll handle Emily. She always needs my approval.”

I didn’t cry.

I documented.

Screenshots.

Everything.

Then I packed.

Not everything.

Just what mattered.

Passport. Laptop. Jewelry.

I left the rest.

I wanted them to think I was still there.

In the Uber to the airport, I made three calls.

“Change my flight. Tonight. Just me.”

“Freeze the joint account. Now.”

“Robert, it’s Emily. I need a divorce. Locks changed by noon.”

No tears.

Just clarity.

They wanted paradise?

I was about to give them reality.