The Divorce He Asked For, The Empire I Took Away Chapter 04

The Divorce He Asked For, The Empire I Took Away Chapter 04

I walked past my mother-in-law, entered the bedroom, and closed the door.

The locks could wait. First, I needed my documents and a few essentials.

Our certified marriage certificate was in the second nightstand drawer. We looked happy in the photograph.

I placed it in my bag, then packed clothes, a charger, identification, and bank cards.

Marcus’s mother knocked repeatedly.

“Why are you taking that? Don’t do anything foolish.”

When I opened the bedroom door, she blocked the hallway.

“Give me the certificate.”

“It has my name and Marcus’s, not yours.”

I told her I would stay elsewhere for several days and hire someone to change the lock. Until then, she was not to let outsiders into my home.

She understood exactly whom I meant. Her face flushed, but she let me pass.

I booked a room at a chain hotel, set my bag down, and sat on the edge of the bed.

Once the door closed, I logged into our joint bank account.

The balance was $16,400. The previous month, it had been more than $21,000.

Almost five thousand dollars was gone.

Three large expenses stood out.

The first, the previous Wednesday, was an $1,100 transfer labeled airfare and hotel. The recipient was not Marcus.

The second, on Friday, was a $1,700 charge at a jewelry store.

The third, on Sunday, was a $2,300 transfer to Vanessa. I stared at her name and the amount for a long time. The memo field was blank.

I stared at her name, captured screenshots, exported the statements, and saved copies in a separate folder.

Four more transfers appeared during the previous three months: $450, $700, $300, and $850.

Marcus had moved $4,600 from our shared account to Vanessa without telling me.

I went to the window. Cars moved along the ordinary street below.

My mother replied instantly when I told her I was safe at a hotel.

[Good. If you need money, tell me.]

I added every transfer and date to my notes.

The first had occurred on March 12, Vanessa’s birthday.

We had eaten together that evening. Vanessa said Marcus gave her a scarf and laughed that he had been unusually thoughtful.

I teased him for finally being generous.

The scarf cost $420, paid from our marital account.

Marcus’s newest message read: [Where are you? Did you take our marriage certificate?]

I did not answer. I muted the phone, tossed it onto the pillow, and stared at the ceiling for another ten minutes.