Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4 — The File
Thomas reached for the folder, but I held it against my chest.
“Eleanor,” he said quietly, “don’t embarrass yourself.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
After forty-eight years, I knew every version of his voice.
The charming voice.
The angry voice.
The business voice.
The voice he used when he wanted me to doubt myself.
This was that one.
I turned to Brooke.
“Take off the bracelet.”
Her mouth opened.
Thomas snapped, “Don’t speak to her like that.”
I did not raise my voice.
“It is insured under my name, photographed in my safe, and listed in a court attachment filed this morning.”
Brooke looked at Thomas.
“Court?”
He swallowed.
Guests were no longer pretending not to listen.
A woman near the umbrella lowered her phone.
An older man slowly stood from his lounge chair.
Thomas stepped closer.
“What did you do?”
I opened the folder.
“Corrected the record.”
Inside were copies of the account changes, trust documents, property titles, jewelry inventory, and Brooke’s messages.
Thomas stared at the pages.
For the first time that day, he looked his age.
“The accounts are frozen pending review,” I said. “The company voting rights are under my control. The beach house is mine. The Aspen property was never yours. And Diane has already filed evidence of attempted asset concealment.”
Brooke whispered, “Thomas?”
I looked at her wrist.
“She knew,” I said. “Her messages are in the file.”
Brooke’s face went pale.
Thomas looked from her to me.
“You planned this.”
“No,” I said. “You planned this. I documented it.”
His jaw clenched.
“You’ll ruin my reputation.”
I almost laughed.
Almost.
“Thomas,” I said softly, “your reputation was the only thing you ever truly loved.”
That hit him harder than anger would have.
Behind us, the ocean moved calmly.
Beautiful.
Indifferent.
Brooke began unclasping the bracelet with shaking fingers.
She placed it on the folder.
For a moment, I looked at it in the sunlight.
Then I closed the file.
“Keep the beach,” Thomas muttered bitterly. “Keep the money. You’ll still be alone.”
May you like
I looked at him.
“No,” I said. “I was alone while married to you. This will be different.”
