Chapter 3 - MY HUSBAND'S MISTRESS TRIED TO STEAL MY COMPANY—BUT THE NIGHT I CONFRONTED HER, SHE REVEALED WHY MY BABY'S BIRTH HAD BEEN THE PERFECT DISTRACTION
The first time I confronted Vivian Cross, she smiled.
Not warmly.
Not nervously.
She smiled like a woman who had spent months preparing for a conversation she believed she would win.
We met in the lobby of a luxury hotel near Michigan Avenue.
I hadn't arranged the meeting alone.
Eleanor sat beside me.
Daniel Price waited nearby.
And the hotel's security cameras recorded every entrance.
I had learned something important during the previous weeks.
Powerful people become less intimidating when you stop meeting them on their terms.
***
Vivian arrived wearing a cream-colored coat and carrying a designer handbag.
She looked at me.
"Claire."
I nodded.
"Vivian."
Her gaze moved to Eleanor.
"An attorney?"
I smiled faintly.
"Apparently I've developed an interest in having witnesses."
Vivian laughed softly.
"How dramatic."
I looked at her.
"Did you forge my signature?"
Her smile disappeared.
***
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then leaned back.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I placed a copy of the document on the table.
She glanced at it.
Her expression remained controlled.
"Corporate paperwork isn't really my specialty."
"Interesting."
I opened another folder.
"Because Cross Strategic Holdings received money from an account connected to the company that filed this transfer."
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
Eleanor spoke calmly.
"We're not here to negotiate. We're giving you an opportunity to preserve relevant records before the authorities request them."
Vivian laughed.
"Authorities?"
I looked at her.
"Yes."
***
She leaned forward.
"Claire, I think you're confused."
I held her gaze.
"Then explain it."
Vivian glanced toward the windows.
For the first time, I saw uncertainty.
***
Then she said something that changed everything.
"You think this is about your husband sleeping with me."
I felt my stomach tighten.
Eleanor looked at me.
I kept my expression still.
"Isn't it?"
Vivian smiled.
"Oh, Claire."
She shook her head.
"You really have no idea how much money is involved."
***
I stared.
Vivian continued.
"Adrian built an empire, but he became sentimental."
Her voice hardened.
"He started making decisions based on what was best for his family."
I swallowed.
"And that bothered you?"
She shrugged.
"It made him predictable."
***
I looked at her.
"What did you do?"
Vivian leaned closer.
"Your husband trusted me to manage the Marchetti relationship."
I nodded.
She smiled.
"And Luca trusted me to understand how to move money without attracting attention."
My heart hammered.
***
Eleanor interrupted.
"Ms. Cross, you should consider speaking to your own attorney."
Vivian looked at her.
Then laughed.
"Relax. I'm not confessing to anything."
But she had already said too much.
***
I studied her.
"Why did you send me the photograph?"
Vivian's smile returned.
"Because I knew you'd believe it."
My throat tightened.
She continued.
"Adrian was already distracted."
"His wife was having a baby."
"His cousin was impatient."
"And the Marchettis wanted control."
She tilted her head.
"All I needed was for everyone to look in different directions."
***
I stared.
"You deliberately kept him away from the hospital."
Vivian shrugged.
"He made his own decision."
The words struck harder than I expected.
Because she was right about one thing.
Vivian had manipulated the situation.
But Adrian had chosen not to answer my calls.
***
I stood.
The meeting was over.
Vivian looked up.
"Claire."
I paused.
She smiled coldly.
"Do you really think Adrian will choose you when he finds out how much money your little company is worth to his organization?"
I looked at her.
Then smiled.
"No."
Her expression changed.
I continued.
"I stopped waiting for Adrian to choose me."
***
I walked away.
***
That evening, I met with federal investigators.
Eleanor had already contacted the appropriate authorities.
We provided the forged documents.
The bank records.
The photographs.
And everything Daniel had uncovered.
***
The investigation revealed a complicated scheme.
Luca Moretti had been diverting funds through shell companies.
Vivian had helped create consulting agreements that disguised payments.
The Marchetti group had been preparing to acquire interests in several legitimate businesses connected to Adrian's organization.
And Bennett Interiors had been targeted because it held valuable commercial contracts and had clean financial records.
***
My company was supposed to become a convenient doorway.
A business nobody would suspect.
A company owned by the wife of a powerful man who assumed she would never question the paperwork.
***
They had underestimated me.
***
Three days later, Adrian called.
I answered.
"Claire."
His voice sounded exhausted.
"I know what happened."
I sat down.
"What?"
He swallowed.
"Luca and Vivian."
I closed my eyes.
He continued.
"They've been working together for months."
I stared at the wall.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
***
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian said:
"I'm sorry."
I looked down.
"Adrian—"
"No."
His voice broke.
"I need to say this."
***
He took a breath.
"I trusted the wrong people."
"I ignored warnings."
"And I let them use your company."
I swallowed.
He continued.
"But none of that changes what I did to you."
My eyes filled.
"I know."
***
Adrian was quiet.
Then whispered:
"I chose that meeting."
I closed my eyes.
He continued.
"I saw your calls."
"I knew what day it was."
"And I still told myself I had time."
***
A tear slipped down my cheek.
He swallowed.
"I will regret that for the rest of my life."
***
I wanted to forgive him.
For one terrible moment, I wanted to say everything was fine.
That I understood.
That we could go home and pretend the damage wasn't real.
But I looked toward Grace's bassinet.
And I knew I couldn't.
***
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"I believe you're sorry."
He exhaled shakily.
"But that doesn't mean I can trust you."
Silence.
Then he whispered:
"I understand."
***
The investigation continued.
Luca attempted to destroy records.
Vivian tried to move money through an overseas account.
But investigators had already preserved critical evidence.
***
Within weeks, both faced criminal charges.
Several associates cooperated.
And Adrian's organization came under intense scrutiny.
***
The newspapers loved the scandal.
THE MORETTI EMPIRE UNDER INVESTIGATION.
FINANCIAL ADVISER AND FAMILY MEMBER ACCUSED OF FRAUD.
MAFIA BOSS'S WIFE AT CENTER OF CORPORATE DISPUTE.
***
I hated seeing my name in headlines.
But I refused to hide.
***
Bennett Interiors continued operating.
My employees kept their jobs.
Our clients received their projects.
And with Eleanor's help, we challenged the fraudulent transfer.
***
One afternoon, Daniel called.
"Claire, I have good news."
My heart jumped.
"What?"
"The court has granted temporary relief protecting your ownership while the case proceeds."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in weeks, I could breathe.
***
That evening, I took Grace for a walk through Lincoln Park.
The air was cold.
Leaves gathered along the sidewalks.
And the city moved around us as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
***
I stopped beside a small pond.
Looked down at my daughter.
And smiled.
"We're going to be okay."
Grace slept peacefully.
***
When I returned home, Adrian was waiting outside.
He stood beside his car.
No guards.
No entourage.
Just him.
***
I approached slowly.
"Adrian."
He looked at Grace.
"How is she?"
"Good."
He nodded.
"Can I see her?"
I hesitated.
Then moved the blanket slightly.
Adrian looked down.
His expression softened.
"Hello, sweetheart."
Grace opened her eyes.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
***
Then he looked at me.
"Claire."
I waited.
He swallowed.
"I've been meeting with attorneys."
I nodded.
"And?"
His eyes filled.
"I'm separating the legitimate businesses from everything else."
I stared.
He continued.
"I've agreed to cooperate with investigators."
My heart tightened.
"Adrian."
He shook his head.
"I should have done it years ago."
***
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said:
"I don't expect this to bring you back."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I'm doing it because I don't want Grace growing up inside the world I built."
***
My eyes filled.
I nodded slowly.
"That's a good reason."
He swallowed.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
He looked at me.
"Is there any chance for us?"
***
I stared at him.
The man I loved.
The man who had broken my heart.
The father of my child.
***
Then I whispered:
"I don't know."
Adrian closed his eyes.
When he opened them, tears were running down his face.
He nodded.
"Okay."
***
For the first time, he didn't argue.
Didn't demand.
Didn't promise that everything would be fixed.
He simply accepted my answer.
And somehow, that hurt more than anything.
***
As he turned to leave, I spoke.
"Adrian."
He stopped.
I swallowed.
"Grace deserves to know her father."
He looked back.
I continued.
"And you deserve the chance to become someone she can trust."
His eyes filled.
"But you have to earn it."
He nodded.
"I will."
***
That night, after Grace fell asleep, I opened my laptop.
I looked at the documents Eleanor had prepared.
Separation agreement.
Financial disclosures.
Custody arrangements.
Then I opened a new document.
At the top, I typed:
DIVORCE PETITION.
My hands trembled.
I stared at the words for a long time.
May you like
Then I began writing.
END OF CHAPTER 3
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