Chapter 4

I kept pushing. "People say that if a man really loves you, he doesn't just say it. He proves it by trusting you with the money."

"You've been reading too much of that internet nonsense," David snapped. He caught himself and softened his tone. "Honey, we don't need those games. Let's just focus on building our life together, okay?"

I leaned into him and pouted. "Then how am I supposed to know you love me? Isn't that exactly how you show it? Just take this chance and prove it. What do you say?

"Changing the name on the deed is a real hassle, so let's skip that. Didn't you just say we'd put the new house under my name anyway?

"Well, if the house is under my name, shouldn't I be the one handling the payment? You can't just pay for it and slap my name on it. So give me the 650 thousand in cash, and let me feel like a big shot for once."

I batted my eyes at him. "Please?"

David hesitated, and I could see him starting to cave.

Then Natasha shot up from the couch, ready to tear into me.

David whipped his head around and gave her a hard look, blinking furiously. Natasha clenched her jaw, turned on her heel, and stormed off to her room.

David finally realized I might actually know something when he saw that I wouldn't budge.

My attitude today was nothing like my usual self.

He lit a cigarette and took a long drag. He was clearly trying to figure out his next move—whether to come clean about the divorce or keep up the act.

He took two deep pulls, then locked eyes with me. "Fine. I'll revise the divorce agreement and give you 650 thousand dollars in cash. How does that sound?"

Nice try. He really thought he could fool me.

He was probably thinking that as long as he never actually transferred the money, that clause would be worthless.

I smiled and said, "That sounds perfect, babe. Then let's do 650 thousand in cash. Here, just transfer it to me right now, and I'll go print out two new copies of the divorce agreement. Deal?"

David froze for a second.

He frowned and asked, "Do we really need to do all this between us?"

I grinned and said, "Of course we do! I'm going to screenshot it and post it on Instagram so all my friends can see how generous my husband is."

I pulled up my Venmo and Zelle on my phone.

The truth was, I had no idea how much money David actually had. I knew his salary was around 500 thousand a year, but he also had stock options and dividends from the company.

But since he offered 650 thousand in cash, then 650 thousand it was.

I wasn't greedy. That would be more than enough for me and Emily to live on for a long time.

David's brow furrowed, and he clearly didn't want to do it.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and sat there for a moment.

Then he transferred 650 thousand dollars to my account. I stared at the balance on my phone, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe.

I beamed at him and said, "Don't worry, babe. I won't blow through it. This is our living expenses, and I won't ask you for money again for years."

David managed a tight smile.

I stood up and said, "Let me go reprint the divorce agreement."

I started heading toward the study, but David grabbed my arm and pushed me back down onto the couch. He said, "Just sit and watch TV. I'll take care of it."

Then he walked toward the study himself.

I knew he went straight to Natasha and Jessica to report everything.

Sure enough, within minutes, I heard the low murmur of voices coming from the study.

I pretended to get up for the bathroom and walked past the study door.

Natasha's voice was sharp with frustration. "How could you just hand money over to that woman? You worked so hard for every penny!"

David tried to calm her down. "Mom, relax. My salary alone is over 300 thousand a year, and with the company dividends and stock returns, I'm pulling in about 650 thousand dollars."

He paused before adding, "Besides, Emily is going to end up with Sarah anyway. Think of it as child support."

Natasha scoffed. "That little money pit. Why should she get anything?"

David lowered his voice. "Mom, like it or not, Emily is still my daughter. If Sarah finds out this divorce is real and takes me to court, I'd have to give her half of everything."

"Half? Over my dead body!" Natasha snapped, but then let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. Just get it over with."

So David had been hiding assets all along.