Chapter 9
Attorney Brown was an old acquaintance from the early days of my business.
She was waiting for me in the car, the faint scent of cedar lingering in the air as the wipers swept back and forth across the windshield.
After going through the files, Attorney Brown said, "The evidence is enough to file a lawsuit, but if you really want to hit him where it hurts, there's still one key piece missing."
"What is it?" I asked.
"Proof that he's been moving marital assets over a long period and deliberately hiding them," she replied.
I looked out the window.
Jonathan always played the part of the perfect husband. At work, everyone talked about how loyal he was, how he stayed true to the wife who stuck by him before he made it big, never leaving her behind.
What a joke.
My phone rang.
It was Alex.
"Susan, Emily's hosting a small floral exhibition tomorrow. She's invited several wives of Mr. Reed's senior executives," Alex said.
I raised an eyebrow. "She's really rushing things."
"The poster says, 'Thank you to my love and my baby for giving me a new life,'" Alex added.
There was a brief silence in the car.
Attorney Brown let out a laugh. "Isn't this just handed to us on a silver platter?"
The next day, I showed up at the floral exhibition right on time.
The venue was on the top floor of a downtown mall, white roses blanketing the entrance, their sweetness so thick in the air it was almost suffocating.
Emily stood under the lights, wearing a cream-colored dress, one hand resting on her belly, looking pure and fragile.
When she saw me, her face went pale.
People around us recognized me and started whispering.
"Isn't that Mrs. Reed?" someone whispered.
"The 'love' Emily mentioned could it be" another person murmured.
I strode over in my high heels, my steps clicking sharply on the floor.
Emily forced a smile. "Susan, what brings you here?"
I handed her a flower basket. "Here's to your new life."
Her eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill. "Do you really have to humiliate me like this?" Emily said.
I didn't bother responding. Instead, I turned to the staff. "Turn on the big screen, please. I've prepared a little gift for Miss Lane."
Emily whipped her head around, glaring at me.
The big screen flickered to life.
The first image was a record of Jonathan wiring money straight to Emily from his personal account.
The second image was the property payment slip.
The third image was the official registration for her flower studio.
The crowd went wild.
I heard people gasp, and someone muttered, "What a shameless woman."
Emily's face drained of all color. "Turn it off! Turn it off, now!"
I looked at her, my voice steady but clear enough for everyone to hear.
"Miss Lane, your new life was funded by my marriage and our shared assets," I said.
Hurried footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Jonathan had arrived.
He rushed in, and as soon as he saw the big screen, he froze in place.
I smiled at him. "Perfect timing, Mr. Reed. Looks like you deserve a round of applause too."