David and Partners Under Investigation for Financial Fraud.
David skimmed the piece. It was short, but the details were painfully specific: a tax audit, canceled contracts, threats of bankruptcy.
He handed the phone back. The weight in his chest deepened.
“News travels fast,” Megan said from behind him.
Andrew nodded.
“The press already knows.”
“Then the clients will panic even more.”
David didn’t answer. He went into his office, but the moment he sat down, the phone began ringing nonstop. Clients. Partners. The bank.
Each call demanded the same explanation.
After a handful of them, he simply turned the phone off.
Megan leaned against the edge of his desk.
“You need to meet with Kate.”
He looked up with exhausted eyes.
“You’ve been saying that since yesterday.”
“Because it’s true. Right now, Kate is the only person who can help you.”
“She sued me.”
“Yes. But if she drops the lawsuit—”
He leaned back in his chair, and once again the image of me rose before him: the day I left, calm and quiet, taking the children without a single tear. Three days had passed by then.
Not one call. Not one message.
That silence unsettled him more than anger ever could.
Then an employee knocked and stepped in.
“Mr. David, there’s a visitor for you.”
“Who?”
“An attorney.”
David and Megan exchanged a look.
“Send him in.”
A few minutes later, Steven walked into the office carrying a briefcase.
“Hello, David.”
David’s voice cooled immediately.
“Why are you here?”
Steven placed the briefcase on the desk and opened it.
“I brought additional documents. This is a supplement to the statement of claim.”
“What evidence?”
The lawyer met his eyes.
“Evidence that you transferred funds from the joint marital account into your personal account and then used them to purchase a condo for Miss Allison.”
Megan cut in at once.
“That still doesn’t prove those were marital funds.”
Steven gave a small, composed smile.
“We prepared complete bank statements.”
He laid several pages on the desk.
David looked down at numbers he recognized too well and could not deny.
“In addition,” Steven continued, “we have video footage of the moment you signed the purchase agreement.”
David’s hands curled into fists.
Megan asked, “What do you want?”
Steven remained perfectly calm.
“We are protecting our client’s legal interests.”
David’s next question came out harsher.
“Where is she?”
Steven did not answer at once.
“Catherine is currently living far away with the children.”
“I can meet with her.”
“That depends on Catherine.”
Megan spoke quickly.
“Tell Kate that if she drops the lawsuit, we’re open to negotiation.”
Steven nodded.
“I’ll pass that along.”
He gathered the papers and stood, but before leaving he turned back.
“David, let me remind you of one thing. Some mistakes in life cannot be repaired with money.”
The room fell silent after he left.
And somewhere far away, evening had fallen softly over the park near our new home. Aiden and Chloe walked beside me along a narrow stone path. The trees were tall and close together, their leaves whispering overhead.
