Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN AT THE GATE
Victoria was still smiling when the black Mercedes stopped outside the estate gates.
Brooke noticed it first.
Her expression shifted.
“Who is that?”
I did not turn around.
I kept my eyes on my husband.
Richard stood beside the fireplace with one hand inside his pocket, wearing the same calm expression he always wore whenever his mother crossed a line he had no intention of stopping.
Our twelve-year-old son, Caleb, sat curled into the corner of the sofa.
His breathing was shallow.
His headphones covered his ears even though no music was playing.
Victoria had just called him an embarrassment.
Brooke had followed by saying her son deserved to live in a peaceful home.
And Richard had said nothing.
Again.
I smiled at him.
“You should probably answer Brooke.”
His eyebrows pulled together.
“Answer what?”
“Who just arrived.”
The intercom chimed.
Our house manager’s voice came through.
“Mrs. Arden?”
“Yes?”
“Ms. Price is at the front gate.”
Richard’s face changed.
Victoria looked between us.
“Who is Ms. Price?”
I picked up the tablet from the coffee table.
“Evelyn Price.”
Brooke frowned.
“That name sounds familiar.”
“It should.”
I turned toward her.
“She represented the Halston family during their corporate dissolution.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“Emma.”
I ignored him.
“She represented Judge Calloway’s wife in that divorce where every hidden asset was recovered.”
Brooke stopped smiling.
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Why is a divorce attorney coming here?”
I finally looked at Richard.
“Because I invited her.”
Silence.
Caleb lifted his head slightly.
Richard took one step toward me.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“No.”
Victoria laughed.
“This is ridiculous.”
I looked at her.
“No, Victoria.”
“What happened tonight was ridiculous.”
“You called a twelve-year-old boy an embarrassment because he had a panic attack.”
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“He knocked over an entire tray of glasses because Brooke’s son popped a balloon.”
Caleb flinched at the word balloon.
I saw it.
Richard did too.
And still he did nothing.
“The sound reminded him of the crash.”
I said.
“We all know that.”
Victoria’s voice sharpened.
“It has been eight months.”
I stared at her.
“So?”
“So eventually the rest of us are allowed to live normally again.”
Brooke folded her arms.
“My Tyler shouldn’t have to tiptoe around every sound he makes.”
I turned toward her.
“Your son deliberately popped the balloon behind Caleb’s head after I asked him not to.”
“He was playing.”
“He laughed when Caleb hit the floor.”
Brooke’s face hardened.
“He is nine.”
“And Caleb is twelve.”
I replied.
“Neither of them should be taught cruelty is entertainment.”
The gates opened outside.
Victoria looked toward the window.
“You would really destroy your marriage because your son is sensitive?”
That sentence ended whatever tiny piece of doubt remained inside me.
I looked toward Richard.
“No.”
I said.
“I’m ending my marriage because the man I married decided his silence was more important than our son’s safety.”
The front doors opened.
Evelyn Price entered carrying two thick folders.
Richard went pale.
She walked directly toward me.
“Emma.”
“Evelyn.”
She placed the first folder on the table.
PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.
Then she placed the second beside it.
NOTICE OF LIQUIDATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF CONTROLLING CAPITAL.
Richard stared at the words.
Victoria moved closer.
“What exactly is being liquidated?”
Evelyn looked at me.
I nodded.
She answered.
“Arden Residential Holdings.”
Richard stopped breathing.
Brooke whispered.
“No.”
Victoria’s face went completely blank.
May you like
Because unlike Richard, she immediately understood what those papers meant.
If Arden Residential Holdings was dissolved, this estate was not the only thing they were about to lose.
