Chapter 16 - THE QUESTIONS HE NEVER ASKED|
The report contained dates, clinic names, and copies of appointment confirmations.
It also included a note about my fertility treatment history.
Owen had hired someone to investigate my medical records.
I felt violated.
He had been beside me through the injections, the failed transfers, and the long nights when I cried because another treatment had failed.
He had held my hand when the doctor told us our chances were low.
And now I learned that he had paid someone to collect information about my body.
Evelyn contacted the police.
The detective explained that obtaining private medical information without authorization could raise serious legal issues, depending on how it had been acquired.
I wanted to know why Owen had done it.
That afternoon, I received a letter from his attorney.
It requested that I refrain from making public statements about the marriage or the business dispute.
It also suggested that Owen wanted to negotiate a settlement.
I almost tore it in half.
Instead, I sent it to Evelyn.
She called me.
“He's trying to contain the damage.”
“Can he force me to stay quiet?”
“Not about matters you are legally entitled to discuss. But we should keep your communications factual and let the lawyers handle the allegations.”
I agreed.
The next morning, Owen came to the house with his attorney.
I refused to let them enter.
His attorney handed Evelyn a proposed settlement.
It offered me a payment in exchange for signing away claims connected to the loan, the house, and the joint accounts.
I read the amount.
It was less than half the money transferred through Northlake.
I looked at Owen.
“You think this is enough?”
“It's a starting point.”
“You used my name to borrow money. You gave my sister a necklace bought with stolen funds. You planned to take my house.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You made plans.”
His attorney stepped in.
“Mrs. Carter, perhaps we should keep this professional.”
I looked at him.
“Then tell your client to stop sending people to my home.”
Owen's expression changed.
“I haven't sent anyone.”
I held up the medical report.
“Who hired the investigator?”
He went still.
His attorney looked at the paper.
Owen finally spoke.
“I wanted to understand what was happening.”
“You had a wife. You could have asked me.”
“You weren't telling me everything.”
I stared.
“What wasn't I telling you?”
He lowered his voice.
“I knew you were unhappy. I knew you were planning to leave.”
I almost laughed.
“I was planning to give birth to our daughter.”
He looked away.
For a moment, I saw something like regret.
Then he said, “I still want to fix this.”
I shook my head.
“You can't fix a marriage by paying me to forget it.”
I handed the settlement back.
“No deal.”
His attorney gathered the papers.
Owen remained.
“Natalie, please. We lost Lily.”
I felt my eyes fill.
“Yes,” I whispered. “We did.”
Then I looked at him.
May you like
“But I lost her alone.”
I closed the door.
