Chapter 3
My lawyer, Daniel Cross, entered with two people behind him.
A private investigator.
And a notary.
Julian stared like I had summoned a ghost.
“You brought a lawyer to dinner?”
“No,” I said. “I brought protection.”
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
“Protection from what? A marital misunderstanding?”
Daniel opened his leather folder.
“From financial fraud, unauthorized property transfers, and possible conspiracy.”
The room went silent again.
Julian’s confidence cracked.
Serena backed toward the hallway.
Marcus blocked her path.
“Bag,” he said.
She clutched it.
“You can’t search me.”
Daniel nodded to the investigator.
“No one needs to search you. We already have footage of you entering the office at 6:42 p.m. and removing Mr. Vance’s laptop from the locked cabinet.”
Serena looked at Julian.
He looked away.
That told me enough.
My stomach twisted.
The cheating hurt.
But the fear in Julian’s face told me the affair was only the decoration on something much uglier.
Daniel placed documents on the dining table.
“Khloe, as we discussed, these are emergency filings.”
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed.
“As you discussed?”
I looked at her.
“I knew for weeks.”
Julian whispered, “What did you know?”
“That you were moving money out of our joint business accounts.”
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“That you forged my approval on a loan against this house.”
Eleanor’s hand flew to her necklace.
“That is a lie.”
I turned to her.
“And that you were listed as the buyer.”
Gasps spread around the table.
Julian’s uncle stood.
“Eleanor?”
She snapped, “Sit down, Henry.”
He sat.
Coward.
Serena tried to move again.
Marcus stepped closer.
“The laptop stays.”
Julian lunged toward him.
I shouted, “Don’t.”
Too late.
Julian shoved Marcus.
Marcus caught himself on the wall.
The investigator immediately called police.
Eleanor screamed, “This is family business!”
“No,” I said. “This is a crime scene.”
Julian turned to me with eyes I barely recognized.
“You were never supposed to find out.”
The words were quiet.
But every person heard them.
Daniel looked at me.
“Khloe, don’t say another word.”
But I could not stop staring at the man I married.
“What were you planning?”
Julian swallowed.
May you like
Then Serena broke.
“She was supposed to sign the trust papers tonight.”
