Chapter 7 - THE ACCOUNT IN MONACO
The forensic accountant found the account because Victoria made one careless transfer.
$275,000 from a company called Arden Legacy Advisory.
Then $270,000 moved onward.
Destination.
Monaco.
Account holder.
RVA Strategic Partners.
Initials.
Richard Vance Arden.
I stared at the name.
My husband.
Evelyn watched me.
“Do you recognize the account?”
“No.”
“Any legitimate reason he would have offshore funds?”
“No.”
The account had received $3.1 million over four years.
Not all from Victoria.
Some came directly from company vendors.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“That raises a different problem.”
“Kickbacks?”
“Possibly.”
I felt cold.
Richard had spent months telling me Caleb’s therapy was expensive.
He had complained about the cost of a private trauma specialist.
He had questioned whether the weighted sleep program was “necessary.”
Meanwhile, millions sat in Monaco.
I laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
“What happens now?”
“We freeze distributions.”
“Do it.”
“The liquidation becomes hostile.”
“It already is.”
Richard called ten minutes later.
“What did you do?”
His voice was sharp.
“Good morning.”
“My corporate card is frozen.”
“Yes.”
“My executive account is restricted.”
“Yes.”
“Emma.”
“What?”
“Those are operating accounts.”
“No.”
“Those are discretionary accounts funded through a company I control.”
He went silent.
Then I asked.
“What is RVA Strategic Partners?”
Nothing.
I waited.
“Richard?”
“It’s an investment structure.”
“In Monaco?”
“Who told you?”
I closed my eyes.
Wrong answer.
Not that does not exist.
Not you misunderstood.
Who told you?
“How long have you had it?”
He sighed.
“Emma, this is complicated.”
“No.”
“It’s actually simple.”
“You hid money.”
“I protected money.”
“From whom?”
Silence.
Then he said it.
“From your father’s trust.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“Because every major decision required your approval.”
“And that was inconvenient?”
“I was running the company.”
“You were running my capital.”
“Here we go.”
His contempt came through the phone.
For years, he had hidden it better.
“You never cared about the business.”
“That did not make it yours.”
“You stayed home.”
I froze.
There it was.
“You mean I raised your son.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes.”
“You did.”
He exhaled.
“I am not having this conversation while you’re emotional.”
Something inside me became completely still.
“You have used that sentence for fifteen years.”
“What sentence?”
“That my reaction is the problem.”
I looked toward Caleb’s bedroom.
“Not anymore.”
I ended the call.
Then I called Evelyn.
“Add the Monaco account to everything.”
May you like
She answered.
“Already done.”
