“In a way.”
I told everyone to meet me downstairs at six.
At 5:58, Daniel entered the living room carrying two champagne glasses.
Vanessa was sitting beside him while the baby slept nearby in a carrier.
Her mother flipped through television channels.
At precisely six o’clock, the doorbell rang.
Daniel frowned.
“Expecting someone?”
“Yes.”
I opened the front door.
Rebecca Sloan walked inside carrying a leather folder.
A licensed process server stood behind her.
Daniel’s expression changed immediately.
“What is this?”
I accepted the folder from Rebecca.
“The surprise.”
Vanessa rose to her feet.
“Claire, what are you doing?”
I gave Daniel the first document.
A petition for divorce.
His champagne glass slowly lowered.
Then I handed him another document.
A notice ending his permission to remain in my separately owned property, subject to the legally required notice period.
His mouth fell open.
“You can’t kick me out of my own house.”
Rebecca answered calmly.
“Mr. Mercer, your name is not on the deed.”
The room went silent.
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You told me you owned half.”
Daniel went pale.
But I wasn’t finished.
I laid several bank statements across the coffee table.
“And this,” I said, “is the money you transferred to Vanessa.”
Vanessa’s mother stopped changing channels.
Daniel stared down at the documents.
“That was an investment.”
“Good,” I said. “Then you’ll enjoy explaining it.”
Vanessa’s confidence disappeared.
I looked straight at her.
“You targeted the wrong wife.”
Part 3
Daniel recovered from his shock quickly enough for anger to take over.
“This is insane.”
He tossed the divorce petition onto the table.
“You’ve been spying on me?”
