I came home and found my husband punishing my eight-year-old daughter because he claimed she had torn his mistress’s $10,000 dress.

doing this?”

“Yes.”

“Tonight?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I decided weeks ago.”

He looked up sharply.

“You were going to leave me anyway?”

“I was preparing for the possibility.”

His expression hardened.

Then he looked around the room.

“Fine.”

He pointed toward the door.

“Then leave.”

I nodded.

“I will.”

That surprised him more than anything else.

“What?”

“I’m taking Sophie.”

He blinked.

“You’re just walking out?”

“Yes.”

Derek looked toward my brothers.

“So that’s what this is?”

He laughed once.

“You called your little army to move you