Chapter 2: Playing the Perfect Victim
By noon, Ethan finally came home.
His eyes were bloodshot.
He carried flowers.
Emma opened the front door wearing jeans and a sweatshirt as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Can we talk?" he asked softly.
She simply nodded.
"I made the biggest mistake of my life."
Emma stared quietly.
"I was drunk."
"I don't even know why it happened."
"I love you."
Every sentence sounded rehearsed.
He cried.
He apologized.
He blamed stress.
Then came the real reason he had returned.
"I need one favor."
Emma almost expected it.
"Our accountant says the holding company paperwork still needs one final confirmation."
"There was some banking mistake yesterday."
"If you could just sign one document..."
There it was.
Not love.
Not regret.
Paperwork.
Emma accepted the folder.
Without opening it, she placed it on the coffee table.
"I'll read it tonight."
Relief flashed across Ethan's face.
He believed she had forgiven him.
That afternoon, Emma drove to a forensic accountant recommended by her father's attorney.
Within three hours they uncovered everything.
Fake invoices.
Forged authorizations.
Hidden shell companies.
Luxury purchases.
International transfers.
Nearly every fraudulent payment ultimately traced back to companies secretly controlled by Claire.
The accountant leaned back.
"This wasn't emotional."
"This was organized."
Emma quietly nodded.
"I know."
Then she handed him another document.
"I want every transfer traced."
May you like
"Every dollar."
"No warnings."
