Chapter 4
It turned out Declan used my money to curry favor with another woman.
What kind of move was that?
"Making the wife pay for the mistress?" I sneered.
I trembled with rage, grabbing my phone to call Declan.
But I stopped halfway through dialing.
I needed to stay calm.
Since he's been so heartless, I don't need to spare his feelings.
I took screenshots of all the transfer records—solid evidence.
Then I sent them to Vivian.
Vivian replied quickly: [Mrs. Sterling, this evidence is highly favorable to you. I suggest you freeze the joint property immediately to prevent him from transferring it.]
Following her advice, I went to the bank to apply for property preservation.
*****
It was already 5 p.m. when I left the bank. Driving past Declan's office building, I spotted his Rolls-Roycy still parked there.
Shelly's red MINI was there too.
They were still together.
I took out my phone and snapped a photo.
Not definitive proof of an affair, but it showed their close association.
Just as I was about to leave, I saw Declan and Shelly coming out of the company together.
They were chatting happily, looking very affectionate.
Shelly was holding Declan's arm, just like a couple in love.
I sat in my car, watching their interaction.
A whirlwind of emotions surged inside me.
There was a time when I walked with my arm around him in the same way.
There was a time when he looked at me with that same tenderness.
Now, all of these were given to someone else.
They got into Declan's car, and I followed behind.
They headed to an upscale residential plot in the west of town.
I watched from a distance as they entered an apartment building.
This must be Shelly's place.
I waited at the entrance of the plot for two hours before Declan came out.
And he walked out alone.
It seemed they really lived together.
Or rather, Declan had set Shelly up in an apartment.
Paid for with my money.
I took more photos and then drove home.
*****
On the way home, I called Laurel. "Guess what I found out?" I said.
"What?" Laurel answered.
"Declan not only cheated on me, but also used my money to keep his mistress."
There was a few-second silence on the other end of the line. "Claire, are you sure?"
"Bank statements don't lie," I told her about my discoveries today.
After hearing it all, Laurel was furious. "That bastard. This is going too far!"
"Yeah, this is too much."
"Claire, you have to kick his ass for this."
"Definitely."
After hanging up, I had already arrived downstairs at my studio.
Just as I was about to go upstairs, I saw Declan's car parked by the side of the road.
He got out and walked towards me. "Claire, we need to talk."
"No need." I continued walking upstairs.
He followed. "Claire, you cannot do me like this."
"What have I done?" I stopped on the stairs and looked back at him.
"You've been ignoring me for two days," he said.
"Yeah, so? Why should I talk to you?"
"Because we're married, remember?"
"Married?" I let out a cold laugh. "Declan, you remembered we were married?"
He was taken aback by my words.
"When you were doing those things with Shelly, did you ever think we were married?"
"Claire..."
"And when you used my money to keep her, did you think we were married?"
Declan's face fell. "What do you mean?"