Chapter 3
Rachel immediately crouched down and hugged my son, her voice all soft. “Tommy, you can’t throw things at mommy. Say sorry.”
But her hand kept rubbing his back comfortingly.
Tommy buried his face in her chest. “I hate her. I like Aunt Rachel better.”
Jake looked pissed.
“Claire, look what you did. Same crap every time.”
“Can’t you just let the kid have fun?”
Jake took Rachel and my sniffling son straight to the door. Said they’d play in the backyard so I could “cool off.”
The door slammed. Finally quiet.
I collapsed onto the cold floor.
My cheekbone went from numb to stinging pain.
don’t know how long I sat there on the floor when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
numbly pulled it out. Bank alert.
Your account ending in xxxx – authorized user spent $12,000.
ake had the second card.
welve fucking grand.
My fingers went ice cold as I clicked through the details. Some high-end designer store.
just sat there on that cold floor, waiting. Hours crawled by until it got dark outside and my whole body went stiff.
inally heard his key in the door. Jake came back alone.
le didn’t even look at me while he kicked off his sneakers, just headed straight for the kitchen.
Tommy was having a meltdown wanting to go to Rachel’s, so I dropped him off there. Where’s dinner?”
grabbed the couch and shoved my phone in his face.
He glanced at it, totally unbothered. Just looked annoyed.
‘Oh, that.”
‘Bought Rachel something.”
So fucking casual about it.
“That’s MY card!” My voice was shaking,
“So?”
He SLAMMED his water bottle down, splashing water everywhere.
“It’s our money anyway. I’m a company director-what the hell do you a housewife know?”
He stared at me with pure contempt.
Chapter 3
“You got a problem? Go make your own damn money!”
I stood barefoot on the floor. The cold marble slowly crawled up from my soles, seeping into my bones.
That huge wedding photo hanging on our wall looked different now. Like some cruel joke.
The sweeter I looked in that picture, the more like a complete idiot I felt standing here.
Jake only got where he is today because this idiot had his back the whole time.
I turned and walked to our bedroom, then into the walk-in closet. Deep in the back, I opened the safe and pulled out a second phone.
Jake had never seen this phone.
The screen lit up clean blue. No extra apps, nothing fancy.
I scrolled through the encrypted contacts and didn’t hesitate for a second.
One ring. Someone picked up.
It’s me.” My voice came out ice cold. “I need you to freeze the authorized user card ending in 8846.”
And liquidate everything in my portfolio. Move it all to my main checking account.”
Got it.”
hung up. Clean and simple.
‘hen I dialed the second number.
familiar, respectful voice answered: “Miss, it’s late. What can I do for you?”
.ee. He’d worked for my father for thirty years.
Lee, it’s me.”
gripped the phone tighter, my knuckles going white. “Find me the best divorce attorney in the country.”
ilence for a second.
Also,” I kept going.
I need you to dig up every detail of Jake’s project bonuses from the last three years. Everything down to the last penny.”
Miss… you and your husband…”
Just do what I asked, Lee. And book me a flight. I need to see dad.”
cut him off. No room for argument.
Yes, miss.”
