Miss Chloe signed the earnest money contract, but they haven't been able to close on the deed yet because she has other outstanding debts. Mr. Roberts's face hardened. Valerie, how do you know all this in such detail? Occupational hazard.

I took a sip of tea. Mr. Roberts, if someone were to investigate these ledgers, whose side would you be on? Before he could answer, a commotion broke out in the center of the hall. Chloe, holding Jason's hand, shouted to the guests, "Attention everyone, we've already picked out names for our baby.

If it's a boy, he'll be Matthew. And if it's a girl, Sophia." The guests applauded, and my mother-in-law, Phyllis, grinned from ear to ear. How wonderful, such beautiful names. Matthew and Sophia, names of good, obedient children.

I discreetly activated the voice recorder on my phone. I walked up to Jason. Jason, what beautiful names. But I left the sentence hanging. I've heard the Tribeca area doesn't have the best public schools.

How about moving to Scarsdale? It's a bit more expensive, but for the child's future. There's no need, Jason said firmly. That penthouse is more than enough. It's over 3000 square ft.

He hugged Chloe proudly. "In the future, all my wealth will go to my son. Do you think I'll worry about not being able to send him to a good private school?" "Really? All your wealth to your son?"

I asked, feigning surprise. What about your company shares? Of course, everything for my son. Jason's voice, likely fueled by the alcohol, grew louder. Who do you think I've worked my whole life for?

For my boy. Let everyone present be a witness. When my son is born, I will put all my assets in his name. The guests applauded again, and Chloe shot me a triumphant glare with a victorious smile. I smiled and nodded, verifying that the phone in my pocket was still recording.

When the banquet ended, I excused myself, saying I had work to do, and went straight to the office. In the empty office, I turned on my computer and opened all the financial records from the last 3 months. Mr. Roberts was right. Jason had embezzled a staggering amount of funds, and his methods were so clumsy he had barely tried to hide it.

I copied all the evidence onto an encrypted flash drive, and then I made a bold decision. I left a footprint in the systems access logs, an obvious trace, but one that looked like an accidental error. If Jason checked the logs, he would definitely know someone had been tracking his financial movements. By the time I finished, it was past midnight. I was stretching and shutting down the computer when a new email notification popped up.

It was from Monica in Switzerland. Valerie, the last transfer arrived in my account without a hitch. The property paperwork is also finalized. The keys and documents are in the bank's safe deposit box as you requested. And regarding what you asked about post divorce asset tracking, Swiss law is quite different from American law.

Before I could finish reading, the office door swung open. Jason, his face flushed from the alcohol stood in the doorway. So, you were here. He marched over. You've been checking the company books, haven't you?

I calmly closed my laptop. It's a routine audit. As CFO, it's part of my job. Don't give me that nonsense. Jason slammed his palm on the desk.

Chloe was right. You've been investigating me. Investigating? I smiled coldly. Do you mean investigating how you embezzled company funds to buy your mistress a penthouse or investigating your dirty entertainment expenses?

Jason's face turned as pale as wax. You? How? I know much more than you can imagine. I stood up and looked him dead in the eye.

For example, the three men Chloe was seeing at the same time, or her brilliant history of fraud, or I paused deliberately about who the real father of the baby she's carrying actually is. Jason's fist hit the wall hard. Shut up. That's garbage. Is it I unlocked my phone and showed him the photo Sarah had sent me.

This is security footage from the Plaza Hotel showing Chloe walking in with Alex Vance. One week before she told you she was pregnant and this I swipe to the next image is her leaving the hotel with Mr. Sterling, one of our shareholders. She was already 2 months along by then. Jason's eyes widened and his breathing became erratic.

No, it's impossible. A paternity test is very simple. We can do it as soon as the baby is born. I put my phone away. But you probably won't have to wait that long.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked defensively. "Let's get a divorce," I said calmly. "I want to end this farce once and for all." Jason stood stunned for a moment, and then a cruel smile spread across his face.

"Divorce, fine. But don't think you'll take a single red cent. The company is mine. The house is mine. Everything is mine.

The law won't say the same." I provoked him deliberately. I have the right to half the marital assets acquired during our marriage. Jason completely lost his temper. Let me make this very clear to you, Valerie.

You will walk out of that house with only the clothes on your back. I will throw you out on the street with nothing. Tomorrow morning, I'll have the finance team cook up some new ledgers. If I accuse you of embezzlement, who do you think the judge will believe? I pretended to be terrified.

You wouldn't be capable of doing something like that. Of course I am, and I will, Jason said triumphantly. So, you better sign the divorce papers without a fuss, otherwise I will show no mercy. I lowered my head and started to sob, making it look like I was having a breakdown. Jason, believing I was crying out of fear, became even more emboldened.