“I did.”
“With her money?”
“Stop talking.”
“You told me the clinic belonged to both of you.”
Daniel’s voice became sharp.
“I said stop.”
That was the first crack in the future they had been celebrating.
Rachel was not finished.
She produced copies of text messages recovered from an old tablet Daniel had left connected to our home account.
In one exchange, Olivia asked whether I could challenge the loan.
Daniel replied that I would be too overwhelmed by the baby and divorce to examine the paperwork.
In another, Olivia wrote, Make sure she signs away the clinic before the wedding.
I don’t want her controlling anything connected to us.
Daniel answered, She’ll sign.
She still thinks I feel guilty.
Olivia shook her head rapidly.
“Those messages are out of context.”
Rachel looked at her.
“Which part?”
Olivia had no answer.
Daniel turned on me instead.
“You invaded my privacy.”
The absurdity of it stunned even me.
“You used my license, forged my name, pledged my business, and brought your mistress to impersonate me,” I said.
“But you’re angry that I found the messages?”
His jaw tightened.
“You were never supposed to see any of this.”
The words landed harder than a confession.
The judge leaned back.
“Mr.
Carter, I suggest you speak only through counsel from this point forward.”
His attorney whispered to him, but Daniel was no longer listening.
He looked at Olivia, at the frozen image on the monitor, and finally at the white garment bag hanging from the back of her chair.
Their wedding clothes suddenly looked ridiculous in the courtroom’s fluorescent light.
The judge recessed the hearing for twenty minutes so the attorneys could review the emergency orders.
The moment she left, Daniel came toward me.
Rachel stepped between us.
“You planned this,” he said.
“I protected myself.”
“You could destroy my career.”
I stared at him.
“You were willing to destroy mine.”
“That clinic is insured.
You would have recovered.”
The casualness of his answer chilled me more than anger would have.
He truly believed my life was replaceable.
Olivia stood several feet away, gripping the garment bag.
“Daniel, tell me there’s another account.
Tell me the apartment is protected.”
He ignored her.
She moved closer.
“What about the wedding deposits?”
“Not now.”
“My family is already at the venue.”
“Then call them.”
