Chapter 3
I stared at Marcus for so long that he finally looked away.
"You gave your mother my accountant's name?"
He swallowed.
"Yes."
My hands began shaking.
"Why?"
He looked miserable.
"She said she wanted to understand our finances."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Our finances?"
He nodded weakly.
I took a breath.
"Marcus, my investment company isn't a family checking account."
He closed his eyes.
"I know."
"Then why would your mother need access to anything?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"She thought you might be hiding something."
I stared at him.
"From who?"
He hesitated.
"Me."
For a moment, I felt as though the ocean had disappeared beneath my feet.
Twelve years of marriage.
Twelve years of working late.
Building a business.
Taking calculated risks.
Paying bills.
Supporting his relatives.
And somehow, I had become the suspicious one.
I looked toward Diane.
She was standing beside the outdoor dining table, speaking to Marcus's cousin Raymond.
Raymond was forty-five.
He wore an expensive linen shirt and had a reputation for being involved in business deals that never seemed to work out.
I had met him several times.
He always asked about property values.
Investment returns.
And whether I was interested in partnerships.
I had never trusted him enough to discuss my accounts.
Now he was standing beside Diane.
Whispering.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Marcus, did your mother ask about anything else?"
He looked down.
I waited.
Then he whispered, "She wanted to know whether you owned property separately."
My chest tightened.
"And?"
He swallowed.
"I said I wasn't sure."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"She got upset."
I closed my eyes.
Then I asked, "Did she mention Raymond?"
Marcus looked surprised.
"How did you know?"
My heart sank.
"What did she say?"
He hesitated.
"She said Raymond knew a financial adviser who could review our assets."
I felt cold.
I turned toward Rachel.
"Secure the private office."
She nodded immediately.
"Already done."
I continued.
"Preserve the access logs and camera footage."
"Yes."
"Then contact our legal counsel."
Rachel stepped away to make the calls.
Marcus looked frightened.
"Nia, what are you thinking?"
I stared at him.
"That someone came here expecting access to my financial records."
He shook his head.
"Mom wouldn't do that."
I looked toward Diane.
Then back at him.
"She just tried to throw me out of my own house."
He went silent.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.
Not about me.
About his mother.
Then Diane marched toward us.
"What are you two whispering about?"
I turned.
"Your questions to housekeeping."
Her expression changed.
"What questions?"
I folded my arms.
"About my private office."
She laughed nervously.
"Oh, that."
I waited.
She continued.
"I was just curious."
I stared at her.
"About whether someone could open a locked office?"
She looked offended.
"Nia, don't make everything sound sinister."
I took a breath.
"Then explain why you asked."
Diane looked toward Raymond.
He immediately stepped closer.
"What's going on?"
I looked at him.
"Do you have business here?"
He smiled smoothly.
"Just enjoying the vacation."
I nodded.
"Then enjoy it without asking about my financial records."
His smile faded.
Diane stepped between us.
"Raymond was only trying to help."
I felt cold.
"Help with what?"
She hesitated.
Then said, "Marcus's financial future."
I stared at her.
"My husband's financial future?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I looked toward Marcus.
He seemed confused.
Diane continued.
"Your marriage has been financially unbalanced for years."
My chest tightened.
"How?"
She pointed toward me.
"You own properties he knows nothing about."
I stared.
"And that makes you think you're entitled to my business records?"
She crossed her arms.
"A husband should know what his wife owns."
I took a breath.
"Then a husband should ask his wife."
Marcus looked down.
Diane's cheeks reddened.
Raymond stepped forward.
"Maybe we should all calm down."
I looked at him.
"Raymond, why did you come on this vacation?"
He blinked.
"What?"
"Why were you invited?"
He laughed.
"Because we're family."
I nodded.
"And did Diane ask you to bring any documents?"
His smile disappeared.
Diane snapped.
"Nia!"
I didn't move.
Raymond looked toward her.
Then back at me.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I felt my jaw tighten.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Rachel.
SECURITY FOOTAGE CONFIRMS RAYMOND TRIED TO OPEN THE PRIVATE OFFICE TWICE.
I stared at the screen.
Then looked up.
Raymond was still smiling.
I took a breath.
"Rachel has the security footage."
His expression collapsed.
Diane went pale.
Marcus stepped closer.
"What footage?"
I turned my phone toward him.
The video showed Raymond standing outside the private office.
He looked around.
Then tried several keypad combinations.
When the door didn't open, he stepped away.
A few minutes later, he returned.
This time, Diane stood beside him.
I watched Marcus's face change.
He stared at the screen.
Then at his mother.
"Mom?"
Diane swallowed.
"Marcus..."
He shook his head.
"What were you doing?"
She looked away.
Raymond began speaking.
"We were checking something."
I stared at him.
"Checking what?"
He hesitated.
Then Diane snapped.
"Fine!"
Everyone went silent.
She pointed toward me.
"We were trying to find out whether you were cheating my son!"
I felt my stomach twist.
I looked at Marcus.
He seemed devastated.
Then Diane continued.
"You've been hiding property from him!"
I took a breath.
"Property I purchased with my separate business assets."
She scoffed.
"That's convenient."
I stared at her.
"You don't get to decide ownership by shouting."
Raymond stepped forward.
"Actually, there are legal issues here."
I turned toward him.
"Then discuss them with my attorney."
His expression hardened.
For a moment, he looked genuinely angry.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Your attorney might want to see the papers Marcus signed."
My stomach dropped.
I slowly turned toward my husband.
"What papers?"
Marcus went pale.
He looked at Raymond.
Then at me.
"Nia..."
I felt cold.
"What did you sign?"
He swallowed.
"Mom said it was a routine family financial review."
My heart began pounding.
I stared at him.
"Marcus, what did you sign?"
He looked ashamed.
"A power of attorney."
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Then Raymond smiled.
And suddenly, I understood that the locked office wasn't the only thing they had been trying to access.
May you like
They might already have been attempting to give someone authority over my husband's financial affairs.
The question was whether they intended to use that authority against me.
