Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS NEVER WELCOME
The next morning, Margaret asked me to come to her office immediately.
David had completed a preliminary examination of the financial records.
The results were worse than we expected.
Daniel had been using the capital I provided to maintain Mercer Capital's operations, but some of the money had also been routed through Sterling Advisory Partners.
Victor Harris was listed as a beneficiary.
"Do you know why Daniel told you Victor disappeared?" Margaret asked.
"He said Victor had stolen money from the company and left the country."
"Was there ever a police investigation?"
"Not that I knew of."
Margaret exchanged a glance with David.
"According to these records, Victor has continued receiving payments from an account connected to Daniel."
I leaned back.
"Why would Daniel pay someone he claimed had betrayed him?"
"We don't know yet."
David brought up another document.
"There's also a potential issue with the proposed asset transfer. It appears Daniel was trying to use your personal holdings as collateral for a financing arrangement."
"Without my permission?"
"That's what we need to establish. The draft is not proof that the transfer was completed."
Margaret closed the file.
"We'll protect your interests while the investigation proceeds. But I want you to understand something. This is no longer just a marital dispute. There may be serious financial misconduct involved."
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
It was Evelyn.
I let it go to voicemail.
A few minutes later, a message arrived.
Your absence is embarrassing everyone. Daniel has agreed to give you one last chance to behave like a proper wife. Come home tonight.
I showed Margaret.
She shook her head.
"Don't engage."
But that evening, I decided to attend a family gathering at the mansion.
Not because I wanted to reconcile.
Because I had received a formal invitation from Daniel's uncle, Robert Brooks.
He had been present during the assault and had privately apologized for remaining silent.
He wanted to speak with me.
I agreed, but only after arranging for my attorney to know where I would be.
When I arrived, the mansion looked exactly as it had when I left.
The fountain was running.
The gardens were illuminated.
The windows glowed warmly against the evening sky.
For a moment, I remembered how excited I had been when we first moved in.
Daniel had held my hand and promised we would build a beautiful life together.
I wondered when that promise had become a performance.
Inside, Evelyn stood near the fireplace wearing a cream designer suit.
She looked me up and down.
"Well, look who's returned."
"I was invited."
"Of course you were. You always did enjoy making yourself comfortable."
Daniel appeared behind her.
He wore a dark suit and an expression of carefully controlled irritation.
"Emily. We need to talk."
"Then talk."
He glanced at the relatives gathered in the room.
"Not here."
"Why? You had no problem humiliating me here."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Don't start another scene."
I turned toward her.
"Is that what you called it when your son hit me?"
Her smile disappeared.
"Daniel was provoked."
"No, Evelyn. He was responsible for his own actions."
The room became quiet.
Robert stood near the dining room entrance.
"She's right," he said.
Evelyn glared at him.
"Robert, stay out of this."
"I should have spoken yesterday," he replied. "I won't make that mistake again."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He took my arm.
I immediately pulled away.
"Don't touch me."
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Listen. The company has a serious financing deadline. I need you to cooperate."
"By signing the transfer document?"
His eyes flickered.
"Where did you see that?"
"Does it matter?"
"That document is complicated."
"Then explain it."
He looked toward his mother.
Evelyn stepped between us.
"Emily, you're making a terrible mistake. Daniel has spent years providing for you."
I stared at her.
"Providing for me?"
"Yes. Look at the life you've enjoyed."
"The mansion?"
"My mansion."
"The cars?"
"Registered to companies I own."
"Your clothes?"
"Paid for through an allowance I provided."
Her face reddened.
"You're lying."
I pulled a printed bank statement from my handbag and placed it on the table.
The document showed the monthly $10,000 transfer.
The account belonged to me.
Evelyn stared at it.
Daniel reached for the paper.
I placed my hand over it.
"Don't."
"Emily, this is private."
"So was the money you spent."
Evelyn's lips parted.
For once, she had nothing to say.
Then Daniel made a mistake.
He turned toward the family and said, "Fine. If she wants to discuss money, let's discuss the fact that she's been hiding her wealth from all of us."
I looked at him.
"I wasn't hiding it. You never asked."
Robert picked up the bank statement.
"Daniel, is this true?"
My husband said nothing.
Evelyn looked at her son.
"You told me the allowance came from your company."
"It did," he snapped.
"No," I said. "It came from my account."
Evelyn slowly sat down.
The woman who had spent three years calling me a parasite was finally confronting the possibility that she had been living on my generosity.
But before anyone could speak, Daniel's phone rang.
He checked the screen and stepped into the hallway.
I noticed his expression change.
His voice became low and urgent.
"Not tonight. I told you I'd handle it."
A pause.
Then:
"Victor, don't you dare come here."
I froze.
Daniel turned around.
His eyes met mine.
And in that moment, I knew the next visitor would change everything.
Because Victor Harris was no longer a name buried in an old business scandal.
May you like
He was coming to my house.
And Daniel was terrified.
