Chapter 2 - THE BRACELET THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOST
Mercer House occupied the top floors of a restored hotel overlooking the Chicago River.
Lucien owned it.
Of course he did.
Ara had coordinated two charity dinners there.
She knew the ballroom.
The kitchen.
The service elevators.
She had never seen the private residential floor.
Now she sat in a quiet suite wearing thick socks and a borrowed sweater while a doctor examined her feet.
“Mild cold injury,” the doctor said. “Fortunately, no sign of frostbite.”
Ara nodded.
Lucien remained near the window.
He hadn't interrupted.
Hadn't asked questions.
Hadn't tried to make decisions for her.
After the doctor left, Ara turned toward him.
“The bracelet.”
Lucien approached.
He placed the cream envelope on the table.
“Three months ago, a woman brought this to my office.”
Ara frowned.
“Who?”
“An employee from your husband's company.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What company?”
“Voss Strategic Holdings.”
Callum's business.
Lucien continued.
“She believed the bracelet had been taken from your home and used to authenticate a fraudulent transfer.”
Ara stared.
“Authenticate?”
He nodded.
“Your mother's estate documents included a personal-property inventory. The bracelet was listed among items associated with a family trust.”
Ara looked down.
“My mother didn't have a trust.”
Lucien was quiet.
Then said:
“She did.”
May you like
Ara's heart began pounding.
“And someone has been using it without your knowledge.”
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