Although she had always been acquitted due to lack of evidence. The most shocking part was that there was a very high probability that the father of the baby wasn't Jason. According to the investigation, around the time of conception, she had maintained sexual relations with at least two other men. Jason? Oh, Jason?

I sighed as I read the report. You thought you had found true love, but you were just a fat lamb in the eyes of a professional scammer. The next morning, I met with Maurice, the manager of a private bank in Geneva. This meticulous middle-aged Swiss man listened to my requests and nodded. Madam, under Swiss law, as long as the lawful origin of the funds can be proven, it is possible to open an account solely in your name.

Given the considerable sum, I recommend transferring it in several tranches. How long will it take to transfer all the funds? If everything goes smoothly, we can complete it in 3 weeks. It won't be detected in a standard accounting audit. Maurice adjusted his glasses.

Of course, this will involve corresponding fees. Money is not an issue. I pulled a USB drive from my purse. Here are all the documents proving the origin of the first batch of funds.

In the afternoon, a real estate agent took me to a villa on the shores of Lake Lucerne. It was a house with white walls and a red roof. Through its massive windows, the shimmering lake, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance looked like a painting. It's a 20-minute drive from the city center, but the privacy is absolute. The agent said the security system in this community is top tier.

No unregistered visitor can even get close to the property. Standing on the balcony, I breathed in the fresh air. For a moment, I imagined living there a life free of betrayal and humiliation. Waking up every morning to the view of the lake and mountains. The image was so vivid that I signed the letter of intent to purchase right on the spot.

Over the next two weeks, by day, I attended the seminar as my alibi. By night, I finalized the plan with Monica and a team of lawyers. The funds began arriving in the Swiss account in multiple transfers, and the property deed process advanced in parallel. Every night on my FaceTime calls with Jason, I pretended to be exhausted and homesick. He must have been convinced I was his naive wife, completely absorbed in my work.

The night before my return, I reviewed the footage from the hidden cameras I had installed in the house. In the video, Chloe, wearing my silk pajamas, was trying on my jewelry in front of my vanity. She held up a diamond necklace, admired it in the mirror, and with a satisfied smile, placed it in her own jewelry box. If you like it, keep it, I thought quietly while watching the screen. Anyway, it's all insured.

Grand larceny carries a heavy sentence. The most surprising scene came next. When Jason entered the room, Chloe immediately turned sickly sweet. Honey, Valerie's jewelry is beautiful. I wore it to the hospital today, and everyone told me how pretty it was.

"If you like it, keep it," Jason said with a dismissive wave. "She has tons of jewelry. She won't even notice if a few pieces go missing." I closed the video and called my father. Dad, I'm coming back tomorrow.

I need to see you. My father, Richard Vance, is the CEO of the Vance Group. Back in the day, he hadn't looked favorably on my marriage to Jason. That boy is too ambitious, he had warned me. And ambitious people have the coldest hearts.

Now I realized how incredibly accurate his judgment had been. The day after I returned, I went to my father's corporate headquarters under the pretext of presenting a report on the seminar. From his corner office on the top floor, you could see the entire Manhattan skyline. "All right, what are you planning to do?" my father asked bluntly, pouring me a cup of tea. I briefed him on the results of my trip to Switzerland and showed him the reports on Chloe.

"My father remained silent for a long time. Jason's company is involved in a massive project right now, you know," he said suddenly. They need a little guarantee from our end. I snapped my head up. What project?

The rezoning of those lots on the Brooklyn waterfront. A total investment of $80 million. They want us to step in and provide backing in exchange for 30% of the shares. My father smiled coldly. Just yesterday, his father Anthony came to see me.

He came begging with a very submissive attitude. Anthony, my father-in-law, he who was normally an arrogant man, had come to beg my father for a favor humbly. That wasn't normal. That means they have liquidity issues. Severe issues, my father said, pulling a stack of papers from a drawer.

The debt ratio of Jason's company shot up to 85% last quarter. Three banks have already cut off their lines of credit. If they don't land this project, they could go bankrupt from lack of cash flow. I quickly scanned the documents. A bold plan formed in my mind.

Dad, do not sign that guarantee. And we need to quietly sell off all the shares we hold in his company. A spark of satisfaction flashed in my father's eyes. I've already started. He then looked at me with a solemn expression.

But Valerie, are you sure you want to go down this path? Once you start, there's no turning back. Since my birthday, there has been no turning back. I replied calmly. On my way home, I received a call from David.

Valerie, we have a problem. Jason suddenly asked to see all the corporate bank statements, especially the investment accounts under your authority. My heart skipped a beat. Nearly $20 million had already been transferred from those accounts to Switzerland. Why does he suddenly want to review them?

It seems Miss Chloe put the idea in his head. She told him you might be siphoning money from the company. I smiled coldly. Tell him he can review them whenever he wants. Oh, and are the vouchers for the special entertainment expenses?

I asked you to prepare ready. Yes, they are prepared in full detail. David's voice sounded hesitant. But Valerie, some of these expenses are really embarrassing. Perfect.

I hung up and immediately dialed another number. Sarah, I need your help. Can you get me a copy of the report and the evidence they gathered when they arrested Chloe?

When I got home, I walked into a complete disaster. My walk-in closet had been rifled through down to the last garment, and barely any cosmetics remained on my vanity. Even some of the art pieces I collected had disappeared. Your back sister-in-law, Chloe, walked out of the kitchen. She was wearing my limited edition Dior dress and on her wrist she sported the vintage jade bracelet my grandmother had left me.