Chapter 4 · Betrayal Beneath Borenian Sunshine

Chapter 4

Charlie nodded in satisfaction. "Ms. Lane, you're smart and calm. Most people would break down in this case, unable to do anything."

"Because I know crying won't fix anything." I met his gaze. "I want results, not to vent."

"Alright, let's get started." Charlie handed me a document. "This is a divorce papers template. Take a look. First, we collect all the evidence. Once we've got enough, then we file for divorce."

"He'll be back in seven days. That gives me the time."

"That's enough. Here's your checklist for the next seven days: First, reach out to the HR Department at his company and confirm if this so-called team-building trip is legit.

"Second, send the private investigator to Borenia to catch them on video. Third, dig up his deleted chat history. There must be a lot of useful info."

"How do I get his deleted messages back?"

"I've got a pro who can recover deleted data from his phone."

"How much?"

"3,000 dollars."

"Fine, I'll pay for it."

Charlie reached out his hand. "Pleasure working with you, Ms. Lane."

"Me too."

*****

When I made it back to my parents' place, Lucas was already asleep.

I sat down in the bedroom and dialed the HR Department at Justin's company.

"Hello, this is the HR Department at Cloudview Holdings," the voice on the other end said.

"Hi, I'm Justin Collins's wife. Could you tell me the dates for the company's Borenian team-building trip?" I said.

"Team-building trip to Borenia?" The HR rep sounded confused. "Our company isn't organizing anything like that."

My heart raced. "No?"

"That's right. Our team-building trip this year is next month, in Saneania, not Borenia."

"Then what about Justin's trip to Borenia?"

"Oh, Mr. Collins took personal leave. Seven days, from November 15th to the 22nd."

So it was his personal leave. I closed my eyes. "Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome."

After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair.

Justin told me it was a company retreat, but it was his own personal leave.

He'd taken seven days of paid leave and blew 40,000 dollars of our household cash to whisk his mistress off to Borenia.

I pulled out my phone and texted the private investigator on WhatsApp. [Can you get to Borenia?]

He replied: [Yes. When do you need me there?]

[Right now. As soon as possible.]

[What do you want on camera?]

[Get them together, something intimate. Make it as clear as you can.]

[Got it.]

[How much?]

[Flights and hotel will run about 7,000 dollars, and my fee is 3,000, so the total is 10,000 dollars.]

I needed to pay 10,000 dollars.

Before getting married, I had saved up 50,000 dollars. Over the past five years, I managed to stash away another 15,000, making it 65,000 in total.

After spending 50,000 on my dad's medical bills, I was left with 15,000, which I handed over to my mom for safekeeping.

Now, with 10,000 about to go out the door, I'd only have 5,000 left.

But that didn't matter. If I could get the evidence and force Justin to leave with nothing, that 10,000 dollars would be money well spent.

I texted: [Alright, I'll transfer the money now.]

The private investigator replied: [Got it. I'll head out tomorrow.]

I set my phone down and stared up at the ceiling.

Justin and I had been married for five years, and his promise to provide for me morphed into me living off his money.

I used to think that I wasn't good enough, so he kept pulling away.

Now I finally got it. It was never about me. He'd already moved on to someone else.

I remembered the day five years ago when he proposed.

"Claire, marry me. I'll be nice to you for the rest of our lives." Justin got down on one knee, holding out the ring, looking at me with such sincerity in his eyes.

I was crying as I said yes.

That first year after we got married, he indeed treated me well. He gave in to everything I wanted and bought me anything I asked for.

By the second year, I got pregnant, and Justin told me, "Quit your job, stay home, and take care of yourself and the baby. I'll provide for you."

I trusted him, so I resigned.

By the third year, after the baby was born, he got busier, started coming home later and later, and acted colder toward me.

By the fourth year, he started saying, "You're spending my money. All you do is ask me for money."

By the fifth year, he was cheating on me.

Over five years, that promise to support me had turned into accusations about how I was spending his money.

I was stupid, but I wouldn't stay so forever.

On the fifth day, the private investigator sent over a video.

Chapter 4

Charlie nodded in satisfaction. "Ms. Lane, you're smart and calm. Most people would break down in this case, unable to do anything."

"Because I know crying won't fix anything." I met his gaze. "I want results, not to vent."

"Alright, let's get started." Charlie handed me a document. "This is a divorce papers template. Take a look. First, we collect all the evidence. Once we've got enough, then we file for divorce."

"He'll be back in seven days. That gives me the time."

"That's enough. Here's your checklist for the next seven days: First, reach out to the HR Department at his company and confirm if this so-called team-building trip is legit.

"Second, send the private investigator to Borenia to catch them on video. Third, dig up his deleted chat history. There must be a lot of useful info."

"How do I get his deleted messages back?"

"I've got a pro who can recover deleted data from his phone."

"How much?"

"3,000 dollars."

"Fine, I'll pay for it."

Charlie reached out his hand. "Pleasure working with you, Ms. Lane."

"Me too."

*****

When I made it back to my parents' place, Lucas was already asleep.

I sat down in the bedroom and dialed the HR Department at Justin's company.

"Hello, this is the HR Department at Cloudview Holdings," the voice on the other end said.

"Hi, I'm Justin Collins's wife. Could you tell me the dates for the company's Borenian team-building trip?" I said.

"Team-building trip to Borenia?" The HR rep sounded confused. "Our company isn't organizing anything like that."

My heart raced. "No?"

"That's right. Our team-building trip this year is next month, in Saneania, not Borenia."

"Then what about Justin's trip to Borenia?"

"Oh, Mr. Collins took personal leave. Seven days, from November 15th to the 22nd."

So it was his personal leave. I closed my eyes. "Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome."

After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair.

Justin told me it was a company retreat, but it was his own personal leave.

He'd taken seven days of paid leave and blew 40,000 dollars of our household cash to whisk his mistress off to Borenia.

I pulled out my phone and texted the private investigator on WhatsApp. [Can you get to Borenia?]

He replied: [Yes. When do you need me there?]

[Right now. As soon as possible.]

[What do you want on camera?]

[Get them together, something intimate. Make it as clear as you can.]

[Got it.]

[How much?]

[Flights and hotel will run about 7,000 dollars, and my fee is 3,000, so the total is 10,000 dollars.]

I needed to pay 10,000 dollars.

Before getting married, I had saved up 50,000 dollars. Over the past five years, I managed to stash away another 15,000, making it 65,000 in total.

After spending 50,000 on my dad's medical bills, I was left with 15,000, which I handed over to my mom for safekeeping.

Now, with 10,000 about to go out the door, I'd only have 5,000 left.

But that didn't matter. If I could get the evidence and force Justin to leave with nothing, that 10,000 dollars would be money well spent.

I texted: [Alright, I'll transfer the money now.]

The private investigator replied: [Got it. I'll head out tomorrow.]

I set my phone down and stared up at the ceiling.

Justin and I had been married for five years, and his promise to provide for me morphed into me living off his money.

I used to think that I wasn't good enough, so he kept pulling away.

Now I finally got it. It was never about me. He'd already moved on to someone else.

I remembered the day five years ago when he proposed.

"Claire, marry me. I'll be nice to you for the rest of our lives." Justin got down on one knee, holding out the ring, looking at me with such sincerity in his eyes.

I was crying as I said yes.

That first year after we got married, he indeed treated me well. He gave in to everything I wanted and bought me anything I asked for.

By the second year, I got pregnant, and Justin told me, "Quit your job, stay home, and take care of yourself and the baby. I'll provide for you."

I trusted him, so I resigned.

By the third year, after the baby was born, he got busier, started coming home later and later, and acted colder toward me.

By the fourth year, he started saying, "You're spending my money. All you do is ask me for money."

By the fifth year, he was cheating on me.

Over five years, that promise to support me had turned into accusations about how I was spending his money.

I was stupid, but I wouldn't stay so forever.

On the fifth day, the private investigator sent over a video.