Chapter 5

The paper trail didn't just show where the stolen funds went; it showed the exact price tag Ben had placed on our daughter's future.

Line by line, the downloaded transfer records spelled out a sickening reality.

The upfront lease on Lauren's downtown high-rise. Custom Italian furniture for the master bedroom. Designer lighting fixtures. Even a massive retainer paid to an elite "family transition consultant" to help Lauren stage the illusion of a perfect domestic life.

Ben had treated our daughter's college trust as an open wallet to finance his mistress's lifestyle.

My hands were ice-cold, but my mind was sharper…