Chapter 2: The Envelope in Her Handbag
Six hours earlier, Naomi had stood in the master bedroom of the house she once called home.
The room smelled of expensive candles and fresh linen.
Everything was beautiful.
The marble bathroom. The custom-built closets. The enormous bed with its ivory headboard.
Yet Naomi couldn't remember the last time she had felt comfortable sleeping there.
She stood in front of the wardrobe, holding a small suitcase.
Zuri sat on the carpet, arranging her stuffed animals in a row.
"Mama, can Bunny come?""
Naomi looked down.
"Of course, baby.""
"What about Teddy?""
"Teddy too.""
"And my pink shoes?""
Naomi smiled faintly.
"Especially your pink shoes.""
Zuri giggled.
Naomi folded another dress and placed it inside the suitcase.
Her phone vibrated on the dresser.
A message from Adrian.
Running late. Don't wait for dinner.
She stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
Tell Zuri Daddy loves her.
Naomi closed her eyes.
That was Adrian.
He remembered to send affection through a text message but rarely remembered to show up when it mattered.
She picked up the phone and typed.
We need to talk.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, Adrian replied.
About what?
Naomi stared at the screen.
She could have written paragraphs.
She could have listed every broken promise, every lonely evening, every moment she had swallowed her disappointment to keep their marriage looking perfect.
Instead, she typed four words.
I'm leaving with Zuri.
His response came almost immediately.
What does that mean?
Naomi put the phone down.
She didn't answer.
Behind her, Zuri held up two stuffed animals.
"Mama, Bunny and Teddy are ready.""
Naomi turned and smiled.
"Then we're ready too.""
A car waited downstairs.
Simone had arranged everything quietly, including the luggage, the driver, and the private flight.
Naomi had not planned to leave in anger.
She had planned to leave without another argument.
But before she reached the front door, the housekeeper, Mrs. Ellis, appeared in the hallway.
"Mrs. Carter?""
Naomi stopped.
"Yes, Mrs. Ellis?""
The older woman glanced toward the staircase.
"Mr. Carter called earlier. He said you shouldn't make any sudden decisions.""
Naomi gave a tired smile.
"Did he say when he would be home?""
Mrs. Ellis looked uncomfortable.
"No, ma'am.""
"Of course.""
Naomi took Zuri's hand.
Then Mrs. Ellis said something that made her stop.
"He also said to remind you that the house is in his name.""
For a moment, Naomi didn't move.
Then she turned slowly.
"Did he really say that?""
Mrs. Ellis lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you should know.""
Naomi nodded.
"Thank you for telling me.""
She walked outside without another word.
At the airport, Simone was waiting beside the vehicle.
She wore a charcoal suit, her tablet tucked beneath one arm.
"Everything is ready," Simone said.
Naomi helped Zuri into the car.
"Did you get the documents?""
Simone handed her a slim envelope.
"Everything you requested.""
Naomi opened it.
Inside were copies of bank statements, property records, insurance documents, and several printed emails.
Her expression tightened.
"Where did you find this?""
"Your shared financial account," Simone replied.
"You asked me to organize the records last month.""
Naomi pulled out one statement.
A transfer.
Then another.
Then a third.
The money had been moved from their joint savings account into an unfamiliar business account.
The total was more than she had expected.
"Adrian said the money was being used for an investment," Naomi whispered.
Simone looked at her carefully.
"Did he ever show you the investment agreement?""
"No.""
"Did he explain why the transfers were made in several smaller amounts?""
Naomi shook her head.
The documents suddenly felt heavier in her hands.
There was something else.
A printed email from a financial institution.
The subject line read:
*REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION — PROPERTY REFINANCING.*
Naomi's name appeared beneath Adrian's.
But she had never signed the authorization.
She turned the page over.
There was a scanned signature.
Her signature.
Or something designed to look like it.
Naomi felt her stomach tighten.
"Simone.""
"Yes?""
"Did you see this?""
Simone nodded.
"I noticed the signature didn't match the one on your identification documents. I thought your attorney should examine it.""
Naomi sat back.
For the first time that morning, she felt genuinely frightened.
She had thought she was leaving a marriage that had become emotionally unbearable.
She hadn't expected to discover that her husband might have been making financial decisions in her name.
At the private terminal, her phone rang.
Adrian.
Naomi watched the screen vibrate.
Simone glanced at it.
"Do you want me to answer?""
"No.""
The call ended.
Then came another.
Then another.
Naomi finally opened her messages.
Naomi, what is going on?
Stop ignoring me.
You can't just take my daughter and disappear.
She read the last message twice.
My daughter.
Not our daughter.
She looked toward Zuri, who was happily coloring in a small notebook.
Naomi typed one sentence.
Zuri is safe. Please communicate through my attorney.
She sent it.
Then she placed the phone inside her handbag.
Simone watched her.
"That was the right thing to do.""
Naomi didn't answer.
Her eyes had returned to the forged signature.
"Do you think he knows I found this?""
Simone hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Naomi looked at the envelope.
"Then don't tell anyone else about it.""
"Understood.""
A moment later, Naomi's phone rang again.
This time, it was not Adrian.
It was an unknown number.
Naomi answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mrs. Carter? My name is Daniel Brooks. I'm calling from your husband's office.""
Naomi sat upright.
"How did you get this number?""
"Mr. Carter asked me to contact you. He says there's been a misunderstanding.""
Naomi looked at Simone.
"What misunderstanding?""
The man hesitated.
Then he lowered his voice.
"He says you have something that belongs to him.""
Naomi's fingers tightened around the phone.
"What exactly?""
There was a brief silence.
Then the man said:
"The original documents concerning the house.""
Naomi looked down at the envelope in her lap.
The house.
The account.
The signature.
Suddenly, she understood that Adrian wasn't just upset because she had left.
May you like
He was afraid of what she might have discovered.
And he was about to find out that she had kept copies of everything.
