Chapter 2 - The Woman Wearing My Husband's GiftBy six that evening, my house looked like a hotel lobby.
Teresa had placed her medication beside the television.
Harold had moved my father's antique chair into the living room.
Neither asked permission.
They behaved as though David had transferred ownership of everything while walking through airport security.
Teresa found me in the kitchen.
“Eleanor, we'll need dinner at six every evening.”
I looked at her.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
“And Harold needs his medication at eight.”
“I'm sure he can take it himself.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“What did you say?”
I smiled.
“I said I'm sure he'll manage.”
She stared at me.
For the first time, she seemed to notice that something had changed.
My phone rang.
David.
I answered.
“What's happening?”
His voice was sharp.
“My cards keep getting declined.”
I leaned against the counter.
“That sounds inconvenient.”
“Eleanor, what did you do?”
“I canceled them.”
“You what?”
“All of them.”
“You can't do that!”
“Apparently I can.”
Silence.
Then his voice lowered.
“Why?”
I smiled.
“You should ask Sophia.”
Another silence.
“Don't do this.”
“Do what?”
“Make accusations because you're upset.”
“I haven't accused you of anything.”
“You know exactly what you're doing.”
“Yes.”
I hung up.
Teresa walked into the room.
“What was that about?”
“David's having trouble with his cards.”
Her face tightened.
“You deliberately embarrassed him.”
“No.”
“I know what you're doing.”
“Do you?”
She crossed her arms.
“David is under enormous pressure.”
“I'm sure Sophia understands.”
Teresa froze.
I watched her carefully.
“You know about her,” I said.
She looked away.
That was enough.
“You knew.”
“Eleanor—”
“You knew he was cheating.”
She said nothing.
My chest tightened.
“How long?”
“It's complicated.”
“No. It's actually very simple.”
I walked upstairs.
In my bedroom, I opened the safe.
Inside were documents I had protected for years.
My grandmother's inheritance.
Investment accounts.
Property deeds.
Everything David had always considered part of our marriage.
But legally, much of it belonged to me.
I photographed every document and sent copies to my attorney.
Then I discovered something I hadn't expected.
A bank account I didn't recognize.
It was connected to one of our investment companies.
I called the banker.
“Who authorized this account?”
He hesitated.
“Mr. Hayes.”
“When was it opened?”
“Fourteen months ago.”
I stared at the screen.
Fourteen months.
That was when David had first told me he needed to travel frequently for work.
I asked for the transaction history.
The banker sent it.
Millions had moved through the account.
Not millions belonging to David.
Millions belonging to our company.
I began downloading everything.
Then I noticed a recurring transfer.
Every month.
$27,500.
Recipient:
SOPHIA GRANT CONSULTING LLC.
I called my attorney.
“I'm sending you something.”
He opened the files.
There was silence.
Then he said:
“Eleanor, this is much bigger than infidelity.”
“I know.”
“Do you know where the money came from?”
“No.”
“I think we need a forensic accountant.”
I laughed quietly.
“I already know one.”
My own profession had taught me to follow numbers.
And numbers had just begun telling me the truth.
At 11:42 p.m., another message arrived from David.
I'm coming home.
I stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
We need to talk.
I typed only four words.
Come home if you dare.
Then I turned off my phone.
May you like
For the first time in twelve years, I wasn't afraid of his anger.
I was curious to see how far he would go to protect his secrets.
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