Chapter 8 - THE MONEY THEY WANTED|
The trust had been my grandmother's final gift.
She had created it when I was twenty, placing the house and a modest investment portfolio under my name. I could access the funds under certain conditions, but the principal was protected.
Owen had known about it before we married.
At the time, he had told me he didn't care about money.
Now Brooke's confession made me question everything.
I called Evelyn Carter.
She reviewed the trust documents and explained that Owen had no ownership rights over the principal.
“However,” she said, “we need to examine whether any marital funds were used to improve the property.”
“We paid for renovations together.”
“That may create a limited reimbursement claim. It does not give him ownership.”
I felt relieved.
Then Evelyn asked whether Owen had ever requested access to my investment accounts.
I remembered the conversation.
Six months earlier, he had suggested consolidating our finances.
He had said it would make planning for the baby easier.
I had refused because my grandmother had instructed me to keep the trust separate.
At the time, Owen had laughed.
“Your grandmother really didn't trust anybody, did she?”
I hadn't thought much of it.
Now I wondered whether he had been testing me.
Evelyn requested copies of the financial statements.
Two days later, she called.
“Natalie, there are several transfers we need to discuss.”
My stomach tightened.
“What transfers?”
“Payments from your joint account to a company called B.R. Events.”
“Brooke's initials?”
“Possibly. The company organized her wedding.”
I stared at the phone.
“How much?”
“Forty-eight thousand dollars.”
I felt dizzy.
“That's impossible.”
“Did you authorize those payments?”
“No.”
Evelyn continued.
“There are also transfers to an account associated with Owen's consulting business.”
I sat down.
“Can he access our joint account?”
“Yes. Both account holders have access.”
“Then he could have moved the money without me.”
“Correct. We need to determine whether the transfers were legitimate household expenses or something else.”
I called the bank and requested a temporary freeze on the joint account.
That evening, Owen arrived.
He looked angry.
“Why did you freeze the account?”
“Because I found the transfers.”
He stopped.
“What transfers?”
“The forty-eight thousand dollars sent to Brooke's wedding company.”
His expression changed.
“That was a loan.”
“To my sister?”
“She needed help.”
“Why did you use our money?”
“Because we had it.”
“It was my money too.”
He laughed without humor.
“You're acting like I stole from you.”
“Did you?”
His face hardened.
“I was trying to help family.”
“Then you should have asked me.”
He stepped closer.
“Your grandmother left you enough money to live comfortably. Brooke was struggling.”
“Brooke's wedding cost more than my first car.”
“You know what I mean.”
I looked at him.
“Did you pay for her wedding because you were sleeping with her?”
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
I opened the front door.
“Leave.”
He stared.
“You can't throw me out of my own house.”
“It's my house, Owen.”
He looked toward the hallway.
Then he smiled.
A cold, unfamiliar smile.
“You think a piece of paper is going to protect you?”
May you like
I held his gaze.
“No. I think the truth will.”
