Chapter 22 - The Dinner Without Me
Victoria’s family dinner took place without me.
That did not stop me from knowing exactly what happened.
Denise attended.
So did Caleb.
My parents declined.
Rebecca instructed us not to engage.
Victoria apparently spent the first twenty minutes telling relatives that she had “proof” I had planned everything.
Then she placed the notarized letter on the dining table.
Caleb recognized it immediately.
He had seen the blank version on the USB drive.
“What is that?” he asked.
Victoria smiled.
“Elena’s agreement.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Julian looked at him.
“Stay out of it.”
Caleb picked up the page.
“I saw the original file.”
Victoria’s face changed.
According to Denise, the room went silent.
Caleb continued.
“There wasn’t a signature.”
Julian stood.
“You stole private documents.”
“You forged her name.”
“Sit down.”
“No.”
Victoria reached for the letter.
Caleb pulled it away.
Then Denise asked the question that apparently cracked the whole performance.
“When was this notarized?”
No one answered.
She looked at the date.
The letter was supposedly signed four days before the wedding.
Denise stared at Victoria.
“Elena was in Boston that day.”
Victoria said nothing.
I had been.
My company sent me to a client meeting.
Flight records.
Hotel records.
Security records.
Dozens of witnesses.
The forged letter placed me in Victoria’s home on a day I was two states away.
Caleb photographed it.
Then Julian tore it from his hand.
According to Denise, he ripped the paper into four pieces.
Which might have mattered if everyone in the room hadn’t already taken pictures.
By midnight, Rebecca had copies.
The next morning, Detective Reyes did too.
Victoria’s attempt to save her reputation had created another potential piece of evidence against her.
And Julian knew it.
He called Rebecca that afternoon.
Not me.
Her summary of the call was short.
“He wants to settle the annulment.”
“On what terms?”
“Your terms.”
I stared at her.
“Meaning?”
“He will not contest your factual allegations in the civil case.”
“What changed?”
Rebecca gave me a look.
“Elena.”
“I know.”
“Everything.”
But there was one condition.
Julian wanted us to stop cooperating with the criminal investigation.
Rebecca laughed when his attorney proposed it.
“We cannot bargain away a police investigation.”
“So there’s no deal?”
“There can be a civil deal.”
“But law enforcement proceeds independently.”
I nodded.
For months before the wedding, Julian had believed marriage would make my assets available to him.
Now he was learning the opposite lesson.
Some things belonged entirely to the person who held them.
My money.
My testimony.
May you like
My decision to leave.
And the consequences of his actions.
