Chapter 4 - The Wife They Underestimated
By Monday morning, the story had spread through Chicago's business community.
Someone had leaked photographs of Sophia wearing Alexander's jacket outside his company.
The gossip websites were having a field day.
Some called me a jealous wife.
Others suggested that Alexander and Sophia had been secretly engaged before my marriage.
One headline particularly caught my attention:
MORETTI MARRIAGE IN CRISIS AS CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART RETURNS.
Alexander called me six times.
I ignored every call.
At eleven, he appeared at my office.
He walked through the reception area without waiting for permission.
"We need to talk."
My assistant stood.
"Mr. Moretti, Mrs. Moretti is in a meeting."
"Cancel it."
I closed the folder in front of me.
"Let him in."
Alexander entered and shut the door.
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
"Running my business."
"You're making my family look ridiculous."
I looked at him.
"Your family managed that without my assistance."
His jaw tightened.
"Take down the statements your team has been circulating."
"My team hasn't circulated anything."
"Then tell them to stop."
"You're asking me to control the consequences of your behavior."
"I'm asking you to behave like my wife."
I stood.
"Then perhaps you should start behaving like my husband."
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he placed a document on my desk.
"What is this?"
"A temporary separation agreement."
I looked at the first page.
He had already prepared paperwork.
"You're asking for a separation?"
"I'm giving you time to calm down."
I laughed.
"You brought me a separation agreement because I refused to apologize to Sophia?"
"Because you're making this marriage impossible."
I pushed the papers back.
"Take them."
"Claire—"
"I didn't ask for a separation. But if you want one, don't bring me a temporary arrangement designed to protect your reputation."
He stared at me.
"What do you want?"
"Honesty."
His expression changed.
For one brief moment, I thought he might finally tell me the truth.
Instead, he said, "Sophia is important to me."
I nodded slowly.
"More important than your wife?"
"That's not what I said."
"You don't have to."
He walked out.
That evening, I attended a charity board meeting where the foundation's financial records were scheduled for review.
Margaret was already there.
She looked at me with open hostility.
"I hope you understand that your personal problems have no place in this organization."
I smiled.
"Agreed. That's why I brought the financial audit."
Her expression froze.
The board members gathered around the table.
I presented the suspicious transfers, the questionable corporate gifts, and the connections to Reynolds Strategic Holdings.
Margaret interrupted.
"These transactions were approved by Alexander."
"Then he can explain them."
"He has nothing to explain."
"Wonderful. Then the audit should clear everything up."
The room went silent.
The chairman examined the documents.
"Mrs. Moretti, where did you obtain these records?"
"From the foundation's own accounting files."
Margaret leaned forward.
"You have no authority to conduct this investigation."
I placed Vittorio's letter on the table.
"According to the late chairman's written instructions, I do."
For the first time, Margaret looked genuinely worried.
The meeting ended with a formal request for an independent forensic audit.
As I left, the family's lawyer approached me.
"Mrs. Moretti, there's a problem."
"What now?"
He lowered his voice.
"Someone has reported that the original trust documents are missing."
I stopped walking.
"Missing?"
"Yes. And the last person recorded entering the archive was your husband."
Then my phone vibrated.
May you like
A message from an unknown number appeared.
Your husband isn't hiding Sophia. He's hiding what happened to his grandfather.
