We noted it as suspicious then, but we couldn’t prove anything.”
Insurance. He had insured her and would receive the money after her death. So he really wanted to kill her—for the money.
“It looks that way,” the detective continued gently. “And this dress was a way to make it all look like an accidental death. A heart attack at a party is common for women your age, especially with stress and alcohol.”
Liv stared at the floor, unable to lift her head.
Twenty years of marriage. Twenty years of love, care, shared hardships—and it had all been a lie, at least for the last few months. “What should I do?” she asked quietly.
“Right now, we’ll take the dress as evidence,” Hayes said. “The powder sample too. Iris Reed has already agreed to provide an official report.
The rest is police work, but we need your help. Your birthday is tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
“Here’s what I propose.” Detective Hayes leaned closer. “You go to your party—but not in that dress.
Wear any other one, and we will be ready to intervene at any moment. Mark Sutton expects you to wear that dress and die. When he sees you in a different outfit and alive, he’ll likely get nervous, maybe give himself away, and we’ll take him into custody.”
“You want me to act as bait?” Liv looked up, horrified.
“Not exactly,” he said calmly. “We just want everything to proceed as usual, but under our control. You will be safe.
I promise. My people will be close by.”
Liv was silent, considering the offer. A part of her wanted to run, hide, never see Mark again.
But another, stronger part craved justice. He had tried to kill her—the mother of his child. He had to answer for it.
“All right,” she said firmly. “I agree. We’ll do it.”
Detective Hayes nodded with respect.
“You’re a strong woman, Mrs. Sutton. Everything will be fine.
I promise you.”
They discussed the details for a while longer. Then the detective left, taking the dress with him as evidence. Liv remained standing outside the lab, staring at the empty road.
Evening was approaching. Soon Mark would return home, and she would have to look him in the eye, knowing he wanted her dead—talk to him, smile, pretend everything was normal. She returned home, barely able to stand from exhaustion and shock.
She walked into the house, undressed, and lay down on the sofa, covering herself with a throw blanket. Her eyes closed on их own, but sleep was impossible. Only endless thoughts swirled in her head, giving her no peace.
She remembered the last few months—how Mark had become more withdrawn, irritable; how often he left the room when his phone rang; how he had insisted on getting the life insurance. “They say it’s necessary for family security,” he’d told her. All those little things she hadn’t paid attention to now formed a terrifying picture.
He had planned this long and meticulously. And she had almost become the victim of his plan. But her father had saved her.
Even after death, he had protected his daughter. “Thank you, Daddy,” Liv whispered into the emptiness. “Thank you for not leaving me.”
Tears flowed again, but this time they were not only tears of grief, but of gratitude and determination.
Tomorrow she would go to her party, and Mark would realize his plan had failed. The front door slammed. Her husband was back.
Liv quickly wiped her tears and got up from the sofa, trying to look calm. “Liv, I’m home,” Mark called from the entryway. “I’m here,” she replied, stepping into the hall.
He looked at her closely. “You look a little pale. Everything okay?”
“Yes, just tired.” She forced a smile.
“I’ve been on my feet all day getting ready.”
“I see. Well, you’ll rest at the party tomorrow.” He walked into the kitchen. “What’s for dinner?”
Liv silently followed him.
For the first time in twenty years of marriage, she looked at her husband as if he were a stranger. The night passed in a restless doze. Liv would sink into troubled sleep, then wake up again, listening to her husband’s breathing next to her.
Every time she opened her eyes, her heart began to pound. Reality returned like a heavy burden. Mark slept peacefully, snoring lightly.
That tranquility seemed monstrous to her. How could he sleep so soundly while planning to murder his own wife? In the morning, he woke up first, stretched, and turned to her with a smile.
“Well, birthday girl, let’s welcome your day,” he said cheerfully. He kissed her cheek, and Liv barely stopped herself from pulling away. “Good morning,” she managed.
They ate breakfast in near silence. Mark scrolled through his phone, occasionally commenting on the weather and traffic. Liv mechanically chewed toast, unable to taste it.
Detective Hayes had called last night while Mark was in the shower and told her everything was ready. His people would be at the restaurant disguised as regular patrons. Liv was to act naturally and wait.
“Listen, I have to swing by the office this afternoon,” Mark said, finishing his coffee. “I’ll be back in the evening, pick you up, and we’ll head to the party. Get your dress ready beforehand so you don’t have to rush.”
Liv nodded without looking up.
“Okay.”
He left around one o’clock, and she was alone again. She went into the bedroom, opened the closet, and took out the blue dress she’d wanted to wear from the beginning. Simple, elegant, the one she felt truly comfortable in.
She hung it on the closet door and stared at it for a long time, trying to collect her thoughts. The phone rang. It was Nikki.
“Mom, happy birthday!” her daughter’s voice was joyful, full of warmth. “How’s your mood?”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Liv tried to sound cheerful. “It’s fine, just a little nervous.”
“We’re already on the road.
We’ll be at your place in an hour. Mikey got so worked up he forgot his favorite toy car at home. We had to turn back,” Nikki laughed.
“Listen, did you try on the dress? Dad was raving about it. I can’t even imagine how beautiful it is.”
Liv swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I tried it on,” she said slowly. “But you know… I decided to wear a different one. The blue one.
You remember?”
A slight pause followed. “A different one? But Mom, Dad ordered that one specially.”
“Nikki, please don’t argue.” Liv’s voice came out sharper than she intended.
“I’m going to wear what I feel comfortable in. It’s my party, after all.”
“Okay, okay.” Nikki was clearly surprised by the tone. “Whatever you say.
The main thing is that you’re happy. Kisses. See you soon.”
Liv put down the phone and sat on the bed.
The hardest day of her life lay ahead of her. She had to smile, accept congratulations, talk to guests—and all the while know that the man standing next to her had tried to kill her. She stood and went to the mirror.
Fifty years old. Wrinkles around her eyes. Gray streaks in her hair that she diligently covered up.
An ordinary woman who had lived an ordinary life, worked as an accountant, raised a daughter, kept a home. What had she done wrong? What had she done to deserve such betrayal?
Tears welled up, but she forced herself to hold them back. No. She wouldn’t cry today.
Today, she would be strong. Liv went to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stood under the hot stream for a long time, trying to wash away the heaviness in her soul. Then she dried her hair, put on light makeup, dressed in casual clothes, and waited.
Nikki and her family arrived first. Her son-in-law, Darius, carried a huge bouquet of roses. Her grandson, Mikey, ran ahead of everyone and threw himself into Liv’s arms.
“Grandma, happy birthday! We bought you the biggest cake!” he announced proudly. Liv hugged him, inhaling the scent of baby shampoo, and for a moment, she forgot everything.
This was what was real. This was what was worth living for. “Thank you, sweetie,” she whispered, kissing the top of his head.
Nikki embraced her mother, and Liv felt her daughter studying her face with slight anxiety. “Mom, are you really okay? You look, I don’t know… strange.”
“I’m fine, just a little tired from the preparations.” Liv pulled away and smiled.
“Come in, sit down. I’ll make some tea.”
They settled in the kitchen. Mikey chattered endlessly, talking about preschool and his new friends.
Darius discussed the evening details with Nikki, confirming what time they needed to be at the restaurant. Liv sat with them, nodding, answering questions, but feeling as
