Chapter 5 - THE SECRET BENEATH THE PRESCOTT GALA
The following morning, Ara met with an independent attorney.
Lucien arranged the introduction but remained outside the meeting.
Ara appreciated that.
She needed to understand what belonged to her.
Not what Lucien believed belonged to her.
Her attorney, Miriam Cole, explained that Ara's mother had established a trust containing several investment properties.
One was a small commercial building near the river.
Another was a historic residence in Evanston.
The third was a minority interest in a company that supplied event infrastructure.
Ara stared.
“My mother never told me.”
Miriam looked at the documents.
“She may have intended to.”
Ara swallowed.
Her mother had died suddenly.
A stroke.
No warning.
No goodbye.
Miriam continued.
“Your husband appears to have gained access to trust documents after your marriage.”
Ara looked down.
“And?”
“Several transactions were executed using signatures that may not be authentic.”
Ara's hands began shaking.
She remembered Callum insisting she sign forms during tax season.
Remembered him telling her not to worry about paperwork.
Remembered the way he'd laughed when she asked questions.
Suddenly, eleven years of marriage looked different.
May you like
Not because every moment had been false.
But because she'd stopped noticing how often she'd been told to trust him without being allowed to understand.
