Chapter 4 – The Secret Behind the Affair
The black sedan remained parked across the street for another five minutes.
Amber Collins watched the lights inside Catherine's house through the windshield, her fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel.
She wasn't smiling anymore.
The phone call she had just ended left a knot in her stomach.
"You'd better not fail this time," the man had warned before hanging up.
Amber glanced at the rearview mirror as though expecting someone to appear behind her.
No one did.
She started the engine and drove away.
Inside the house, Catherine stood in Emma's nursery, gently rocking her daughter back to sleep.
The divorce papers were already sealed inside a folder on the desk.
Tomorrow morning, her attorney would file them with the Philadelphia Family Court.
There was no turning back.
Rachel leaned against the doorway.
"You really did it."
"I did."
"Any regrets?"
Catherine looked down at Emma.
"My only regret is believing someone else's promises longer than I believed my own instincts."
Rachel smiled proudly.
"Our mother used to say something like that."
Catherine laughed softly.
"She also said that people always reveal themselves."
"They do."
"We just don't always want to see it."
The following morning, Catherine arrived at the law office of Margaret Ellis, one of Philadelphia's most respected divorce attorneys.
Margaret greeted her warmly.
"I've reviewed everything you brought."
She opened a thick file.
"The hospital records."
"The phone logs."
"The text messages."
"The hotel receipts Michael's mother gave you."
Margaret removed her reading glasses.
"These are devastating."
Catherine remained quiet.
"I don't want revenge."
Margaret nodded.
"Most people say that."
"I mean it."
"What do you want?"
Catherine answered without hesitation.
"I want peace."
The attorney smiled.
"Then we'll make sure no one can take it from you."
She slid another document across the desk.
"However..."
Catherine looked down.
Financial statements.
Joint bank accounts.
Investment portfolios.
Mortgage records.
Her eyebrows slowly knitted together.
"This can't be right."
Margaret sighed.
"I was hoping you'd notice."
"The savings account..."
Catherine flipped through the pages.
"...there's almost two hundred thousand dollars missing."
Margaret nodded.
"It disappeared over the last twenty-two months."
Catherine looked stunned.
"I never authorized any withdrawals."
"I know."
"Michael handled our finances."
"So it appears."
Silence settled over the office.
Finally Catherine whispered,
"Where did the money go?"
Margaret slowly turned another page.
Luxury hotels.
Jewelry.
International travel.
Private club memberships.
Every payment traced back to Michael.
Many included another authorized user.
Amber Collins.
Catherine closed her eyes.
"It wasn't just an affair."
"No."
Margaret's voice became serious.
"It appears your husband used marital assets to support another relationship."
"And that's illegal?"
"In Pennsylvania..."
Margaret folded her hands.
"...it matters."
Meanwhile, across downtown Philadelphia, Michael sat alone inside his executive office.
His desk was covered with unopened emails.
Financial reports.
Meeting requests.
Nothing held his attention.
He hadn't slept in days.
A knock interrupted the silence.
"Come in."
Amber entered confidently.
She wore a fitted navy business suit and carried two coffees.
"I thought you could use this."
Michael didn't touch it.
"What are you doing here?"
Amber frowned.
"I work here."
"You shouldn't."
Her smile faded.
"What does that mean?"
"It means..."
Michael stood.
"...people are starting to talk."
"So?"
"My wife just filed for divorce."
"Our future is finally beginning."
Michael stared at her.
"Our future?"
Amber smiled.
"You promised."
"I promised nothing."
Her expression froze.
"What?"
"I told you..."
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"...this is over."
Amber laughed.
"No."
"I'm serious."
"You don't mean that."
"I do."
Amber set both coffees down with more force than necessary.
"You left your wife while she was in labor."
"You chose me."
Michael looked away.
"I chose the worst version of myself."
The words shocked even him.
Amber stepped closer.
"What happened to you?"
"I saw my daughter."
"So?"
Michael's eyes hardened.
"And I realized one day she'll ask me where I was the night she was born."
Amber crossed her arms.
"You'll think of something."
"No."
He looked directly at her.
"I already know the answer."
Silence filled the office.
Then Amber's voice became cold.
"So after everything I sacrificed..."
Michael interrupted.
"You sacrificed nothing."
"I gave you three years."
"You helped me destroy my family."
She slapped him.
The sound echoed across the glass walls of the executive office.
Neither noticed the junior accountant walking past outside.
He had heard everything.
That afternoon, Catherine received an unexpected phone call.
"Mrs... Carter?"
She smiled faintly at hearing her maiden name.
"Speaking."
"This is Evelyn Harrison."
Michael's mother sounded shaken.
"Can you meet me?"
"Is everything alright?"
"No."
A pause.
"I found something else."
One hour later they met inside a quiet café overlooking the Schuylkill River.
Evelyn slid a small flash drive across the table.
"I found this hidden in Michael's home office."
Catherine looked confused.
"What's on it?"
"I don't know."
"I couldn't open it."
"Why not?"
"It's password protected."
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"But before your father-in-law died..."
She swallowed.
"...he once told me that Michael kept copies of every company financial record."
Catherine stared at the tiny device.
"You think this contains business files?"
"I think..."
Evelyn looked around carefully before continuing.
"...whatever is on that drive frightened someone enough that Michael hid it."
Catherine slowly picked it up.
At that exact moment, her phone buzzed.
A text message from an unknown number.
Don't plug that flash drive into your home computer. Someone is already watching you.
No name.
No explanation.
Only that warning.
A chill ran down Catherine's spine.
She looked around the café.
Businessmen.
Students.
Waitresses.
Families.
Everyone appeared perfectly ordinary.
Yet suddenly...
May you like
She couldn't shake the feeling that someone, somewhere inside the room...
Was watching her every move.
