Chapter 6 - The Night He Left
At 1:52 in the morning, Victor rose from bed.
Claire kept her breathing slow and even.
He dressed quietly, pulled a suitcase from the wardrobe and began packing clothes.
The zipper sounded unnaturally loud in the silent bedroom.
Victor placed his passport, cash and several watches into an inside compartment. Then he stood over Claire.
For a moment, she wondered whether he would feel regret.
Instead, he whispered, “You never saw this coming.”
The bedroom door closed behind him.
Claire remained still until she heard his car leave the driveway.
Then she sat up.
Her hands were trembling.
Not because she wanted him back, but because twelve years of marriage had ended with six cruel words spoken to a woman pretending to sleep.
At 2:31, Victor sent her a photograph.
He and Olivia stood beneath the international departures sign. Victor’s arm was around Olivia’s waist. Both were smiling.
The message beneath the picture read:
By the time you wake up, the house, the company and the accounts will belong to me. Don’t bother calling. You have nothing left.
Claire stared at the screen.
Then she typed three words.
Enjoy the airport.
She sent the message to Victor and forwarded the photograph to Detective Shaw.
At 3:04, the scheduled transfer began.
At 3:05, the funds were frozen.
At 3:07, Victor’s cards stopped working.
At 3:10, airline staff asked Victor to step away from the boarding gate.
Olivia began shouting when her account access disappeared.
Victor called three bank managers, his attorney and a board member.
No one answered.
At 3:18, he discovered that the company had suspended him.
At 3:22, Olivia accused him of lying about the money.
May you like
At 3:29, she walked away with her own luggage and refused to return.
Victor arrived home eighteen minutes later.
