And almost sixty percent of the capital keeping his company afloat came from a trust entirely under my control.
I went upstairs and locked the bedroom door.
Then I called our family attorney.
“Martin,” I said quietly, “I need you to activate the separation documents.”
He fell silent.
Then asked, “Are you certain?”
I looked toward the suitcase beneath my bed.
“Yes.”
By midnight, I was gone.
Part 2
The next morning, Tyler came downstairs expecting me to apologize.
Instead, Richard was alone making coffee.
Tyler grinned.
“Where is she?”
Richard shrugged.
“Probably sulking.”
Tyler opened the refrigerator.
“Finally learned her place, huh?”
Richard laughed.
It lasted about thirty seconds.
Then he went upstairs.
My closet was empty.
So was my jewelry case.
My laptop was gone.
Even the framed picture of my parents had vanished from the nightstand.
Richard called me.
Voicemail.
He tried again.
Voicemail.
Then the front door opened downstairs.
Martin Hayes, our family attorney, hurried inside carrying a leather folder.
Richard came downstairs.
“Martin?”
Martin stared first at him, then Tyler, then back at Richard.
“Sir…”
His face had turned pale.
“What did you do?”
Richard frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“Where is Helen?”
“She’s throwing a tantrum.”
Martin briefly closed his eyes.
“No.”
Richard’s tone hardened.
“What do you mean, no?”
Martin opened the folder.
“Seven years ago, before your marriage, Helen purchased this property through her family trust.”
Tyler stopped eating.
Richard stared at Martin.
“I know she helped with the house.”
“No,” Martin said. “She owns the house.”
Silence followed.
Richard opened his mouth.
“She put my name—”
“On occupancy and insurance documents. Not the deed.”
Tyler stepped closer.
“So what?”
Martin removed another document.
“This is a notice terminating permission for Tyler to reside here.”
Tyler laughed.
“You’re joking.”
“I am not.”
Martin produced another page.
“This terminates Helen’s personal guarantee on the revolving credit facility supporting Richard’s company.”
Richard’s expression changed.
“You can’t just do that.”
