Chapter 4 - THE DIVORCE TRAP
The divorce moved quickly.
Too quickly.
Anthony hired an expensive attorney.
Eleanor hired another.
Marissa's attorney advised her to remain calm.
Anthony tried everything.
He called her unreasonable.
He called her unstable.
He told people she was obsessed with money.
Eleanor told mutual friends that Marissa had always been interested in Anthony's wealth.
The story spread.
Marissa said nothing.
Silence was safer.
During mediation, Anthony leaned across the table.
“You could walk away with a comfortable settlement.”
Marissa looked at him.
“How generous.”
“You don't need everything.”
“I don't want everything.”
He frowned.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
Anthony laughed.
“You'll never get it.”
Marissa held his gaze.
“Then why are you so afraid?”
His smile vanished.
The mediator interrupted.
“Let's remain professional.”
Anthony leaned back.
The financial disclosure documents arrived two days later.
Marissa reviewed them carefully.
One account was missing.
Then another.
Then three corporate entities.
She highlighted every discrepancy.
Her attorney looked at the documents.
“This is not normal.”
“I know.”
“We need independent records.”
“I already started collecting them.”
Her attorney stared.
“You've been preparing for this?”
“For a while.”
The divorce became bitter.
Anthony stopped pretending to be polite.
He called her repeatedly.
He sent messages.
He demanded she return jewelry.
He demanded access to the house.
He demanded she sign additional documents.
Marissa refused.
Then Eleanor called.
“You're destroying my son's life.”
Marissa stood by the window.
“No. I'm refusing to protect him from his choices.”
“You think your uniform makes you important?”
“No.”
“You're nothing without Anthony.”
Marissa looked at the city outside.
“That's what he wanted me to believe.”
Eleanor lowered her voice.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with.”
Marissa smiled faintly.
“Neither do you.”
The call ended.
Three days later, the divorce was finalized.
Marissa walked out of the courthouse alone.
Anthony walked out surrounded by attorneys.
Reporters waited outside.
One asked whether she had received a large settlement.
Marissa said nothing.
Anthony stopped beside her.
“You look happy.”
“I am.”
“You won't be.”
She looked at him.
“That's not your decision anymore.”
His face tightened.
He leaned closer.
“You'll come back.”
Marissa shook her head.
“No.”
“You always do.”
“Not this time.”
She walked away.
That night, she opened the black folder.
She had not yet shown anyone its contents.
Inside were documents she had collected over the previous months.
But one section remained missing.
The original authorization.
The document proving who had created the shell company.
She knew Anthony had it.
She knew Eleanor had seen it.
And she suspected someone else knew.
The next morning, her attorney called.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“The bank found another account.”
“In whose name?”
There was silence.
Then:
“Yours.”
Marissa sat down.
“How much?”
Her attorney gave her the number.
Marissa closed her eyes.
It was enough to destroy her.
Unless she could prove she had never controlled it.
She opened the black folder.
May you like
There was only one thing left to find.
The original.
