Chapter 3

I replied: [Keep watching. Did you get it on video?]

Paula texted: [Yes. I'll send it right over.]

In the video, Tessa was dressed in a Chanel suit, one hand protectively over her belly, throwing a fit at the suppliers like a drama queen.

She shouted, "Why are you asking me for money? Go find that old hag Natalie. She was in charge before."

Eric stood off to the side, sweating bullets as he tried to offer a cigarette, but got pushed away without a second thought.

The once all-powerful CEO now looked like a beaten dog with nowhere to go, utterly humiliated.

I watched for a while, then turned off the video.

That wasn't enough punishment for Tessa and Eric.

Just losing their money wouldn't be enough to make them fall into despair.

What I wanted was for them to be utterly disgraced, their reputation shattered.

*****

That evening, I had dinner with Gabriel from Lestone Group.

Gabriel was a cultured businessman in his forties, and there was a touch of respect in his eyes as he looked at me.

"Ms. Boyer, welcome to Lestone Group," he said, raising his glass.

"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Foley," I said, clinking my glass with his. "But before I officially join, I have a little gift for Lestone Group."

"Oh?" Gabriel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

I pulled a USB drive out of my bag and slid it across the table to him.

"This contains all of Conway Supply Group's top client info, plus proof of their tax fraud and evasion," I said.

Gabriel was momentarily stunned, then broke into a smile.

"Ms. Boyer, you're savage," he said.

"When you're dealing with heartless bastards, you've got to be even colder," I said, my voice icy.

I took a sip of red wine, my eyes as cold as ice. "And this is just the beginning."

*****

After dinner, Gabriel personally escorted me back to the hotel.

Before I got out, he said, "Ms. Boyer, Lestone Group's legal team is on standby for you whenever you need."

"Thanks," I said.

Back in my room, I fired up my laptop and started sorting through all the evidence I'd collected over the years of Eric's asset transfers.

I had kept records of every single transaction and every fake contract.

He thought I was some clueless housewife, but what he didn't realize was that the one sharing his bed was the most dangerous enemy he could ever have.

*****

By the fourth day, things had escalated.

Eric must have been desperate, because he actually showed up at my parents' place with Tessa, making a scene.

When I got the call from Joelle Blevins, my neighbor, I nearly crushed the glass in my hand.

"Natalie, you need to come home right now. Your ex-husband is outside your parents' door with that pregnant woman, screaming and causing a ruckus.

"He's yelling that you stole all the company's money and are out there messing around with some random guy," Joelle said.

"Joelle, can you call the police for me? I'm on my way," I said.

I grabbed my car keys and bolted out of the hotel.

I floored it all the way to my parents' house, not caring about the speed limit.

If Tessa and Eric were just out for me, I'd play their game.

But dragging my parents into this? That was the one thing they should never have done.

When I got to my parents' place, the cops were already there.

The hallway was packed with neighbors, all craning their necks to get a look at the drama.

Eric was standing in front of my dad, pointing at him. "You old bastard. Look at the daughter you raised. She stole my money and ran off, and now my company's going under. Tell her to cough up the cash, or I'll commit suicide here."

Tessa was sprawled on the floor, wailing her eyes out. "This is so unfair. Natalie is bullying us. Just because she's his wife, she's driving me, a pregnant woman, to the brink."

My dad was trembling with anger, clutching his chest, unable to say a word. My mom was wiping away tears, holding a broom like she wanted to drive them out. But she was too scared to touch Tessa, afraid of hurting Tessa.

"Eric!" I barked, shoving my way through the crowd.

When Eric saw me, his eyes flashed with rage and he lunged at me, reaching for my hand.

"You bitch. You finally showed up. Where's the money? Where did you stash it?" he yelled.

I sidestepped and slapped him right across his face.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the hallway.

Everyone went dead silent.

Eric clutched his face, staring at me in utter disbelief. "How dare you hit me?"

"Of course I dare, you beast," I shot back, my voice icy and fierce. "That slap was for my parents. If you've got a problem, take it up with me. Picking on two old folks? That's low, even for you."

"I did this because of you. Give me the money," Eric shouted, his face contorted with fury.

The cops walked over. "What's going on here? Who called the police?"

"Officer, I'm Natalie Boyer," I said, straightening my clothes and keeping my voice cool. "These two trespassed into my parents' home, stirred up trouble, and are making false accusations. I've got recordings and witnesses."

"Bullshit. I'm still your husband," Eric snarled.

"Ex-husband," I corrected him. "Divorce isn't official yet, but we've been separated for ages.

"And you show up here with your mistress to disgrace my parents? What kind of man does that?"

The neighbors started gossiping and pointing, whispering among themselves.

"So he really brought his mistress here to make a scene? How shameless."

"He looks all proper, but he's rotten to the core."

"And that pregnant woman is shameless too. As a homewrecker, isn't she afraid of karma?"

Tessa's face went from red to white when she heard the neighbors' whispers. Her bravado vanished, and she fell silent, shrinking behind Eric, no longer daring to make a scene.

Once the police understood the situation, they told Eric and Tessa they needed to come down to the station for questioning.