Chapter 9 - The Account I Never Saw
Ryan denied stealing.
That was the word he hated.
“Those funds came from investment profits.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Profits generated inside a marital account.”
“I manage our finances.”
“You manage them.”
I looked at him.
“You don’t own them.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“This has gotten completely out of control.”
I laughed.
“No, Ryan.”
“For the first time, you don’t control it.”
His eyes hardened.
There he was.
The man beneath the peach pie and foot massages.
“Claire, you are pregnant.”
“So?”
“You’re emotional.”
Margaret inhaled sharply.
Ryan heard himself too late.
I stood.
“Say it again.”
“Claire.”
“Tell everyone I’m confused because I’m pregnant.”
“I didn’t say confused.”
“You were about to.”
He stepped toward me.
My father moved between us.
Ryan stopped.
Sabrina quietly picked up her purse.
Charles noticed.
“You’re not leaving.”
She looked at him.
“I have nothing else to say.”
“You participated in concealing family assets.”
Her face changed.
“I did not know whose money he used.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Sabrina.”
She ignored him.
“He told me the condo money came from his personal investment account.”
Evelyn asked, “Do you have that in writing?”
“Yes.”
Ryan went pale.
I almost admired how quickly Sabrina understood the situation.
Love disappeared the moment liability entered the room.
She opened her phone.
“I kept everything.”
Ryan stepped toward her.
“Do not do this.”
Sabrina looked at him.
“You lied to me too.”
His face twisted.
“I left my marriage for you.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You left your marriage for thirty-two million dollars.”
That landed.
Ryan had no answer.
Sabrina turned to me.
“I knew about you.”
“I know.”
“I knew you were pregnant.”
“I know.”
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
Her eyes dropped.
“But I did not know he was using your money.”
I stared at her.
“That doesn’t make you innocent.”
“No.”
For the first time, she looked ashamed.
Then she said something none of us expected.
“There’s another account.”
Ryan’s head lifted.
“Sabrina.”
She looked at Evelyn.
“He called it Northstar.”
Evelyn wrote the name down.
“What is it?”
May you like
Sabrina answered without looking at Ryan.
“I think it’s where he’s been moving money before the baby is born.”
