Chapter 10 - Six MonthsThe clock starts ticking“The trust was created by your mother,” Dad said.
“How much?”
He didn't answer.
“Dad.”
“Enough.”
“I need a number.”
He looked at Elena.
She answered for him.
“Approximately eighty-four million dollars.”
The room went silent.
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my mind couldn't process it.
“Eighty-four million?”
“Current valuation.”
“And Dominic knew?”
“Apparently.”
I sat down.
“So that's what they wanted.”
“Part of it.”
“What does part mean?”
Dad took a breath.
“The trust contains several properties and investments.”
“Fine.”
“Your mother also attached a control clause.”
“What clause?”
“At six months, the beneficiary can establish independent management.”
“So?”
“You are currently the beneficiary.”
I frowned.
“Who controls it now?”
Dad looked at me.
“I do.”
“Then why does Dominic care?”
“Because if you remain married, your legal and financial decisions become easier to challenge.”
I understood.
He wasn't simply trying to steal money.
He wanted to create enough debt and legal confusion to gain access to the trust.
Elena nodded.
“He intended to argue that Audrey's assets were marital or commingled.”
“But they're not.”
“Not legally.”
She looked at me.
“Unless someone creates enough fraudulent records to make them appear that way.”
Dominic had spent two years building those records.
My chest tightened.
“So what happens now?”
Dad answered.
“We dismantle them.”
The next week became a war of documents.
Bank subpoenas.
Forensic accountants.
Court filings.
Digital signatures.
Corporate records.
Security footage.
Everything Dominic had hidden began surfacing.
Then his investors demanded a board meeting.
He tried to claim I had sabotaged him.
It failed.
The board requested evidence.
He had none.
Meanwhile, his attorney approached Elena.
They offered a settlement.
I refused.
Not out of revenge.
Because I wanted the truth on record.
On day fourteen, the court granted a temporary order protecting my assets.
On day seventeen, investigators found a second shell company.
On day twenty-one, Victoria stopped responding.
On day twenty-six, Mercer disappeared.
Then, on day twenty-eight, Dominic did something desperate.
He filed a complaint accusing me of financial fraud.
He claimed I had concealed family assets during our marriage.
The headline hit the internet within hours.
SOCIALITE WIFE HID MILLIONS FROM HUSBAND.
I stared at the screen.
“Socialite?”
Elena sighed.
“They'll write anything.”
I looked at Dad.
“What now?”
He smiled faintly.
“Now they get to learn the truth.”
The hearing was scheduled for Friday.
That morning, Dominic arrived in court looking confident.
His attorney presented documents claiming I had promised him access to the trust.
Then the judge asked one question.
“Where is the original authorization?”
The attorney hesitated.
Dominic glanced at me.
I sat beside Elena.
Calm.
Then Elena stood.
“We have it.”
She placed the original document on the table.
It was signed by Dominic.
Not me.
The judge examined it.
Then she looked at Dominic.
“Mr. Vale, this signature is yours.”
“No.”
“We have forensic analysis.”
Dominic's face went pale.
The judge leaned back.
“I also have evidence suggesting the document was altered.”
The room went silent.
Then Elena presented the final piece.
A recording.
Dominic's own voice.
I recognized the conversation.
“We need her to sign before the baby is born.”
Victoria answered:
“She'll do it.”
Dominic:
“She trusts me.”
Victoria:
“That's why she will.”
The judge stopped the recording.
Dominic's attorney looked horrified.
The judge looked at him.
“Counsel, do you have an explanation?”
He didn't.
Then the judge turned to Dominic.
“You need to answer something for me.”
Dominic swallowed.
“Yes, Your Honor?”
“Why did you marry this woman?”
Dominic looked at me.
His face was empty.
He opened his mouth.
May you like
Nothing came out.
End of Chapter 10The courtroom was silent. Then Audrey's attorney produced one final document that had nothing to do with the divorce.
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