His Black Card Failed the Moment His Wife Stepped Forward

Chapter 3 - The Life He Never Owned

Daniel had promised Olivia everything.

A penthouse downtown.

A vacation home.

Two million dollars in cash.

A position inside Carter Holdings.

And a trust fund for their baby.

Olivia believed him.

Because Daniel showed her documents.

Claire had copies of those too.

The penthouse belonged to Carter Holdings.

The vacation property belonged to Claire's family trust.

The supposed two million dollars existed only inside an account Daniel believed he controlled.

Olivia turned toward him.

"You told me the penthouse was yours."

"It will be."

"No."

Claire's voice was calm.

"It won't."

Daniel snapped.

"Stay out of this."

Claire looked at him.

"For fourteen years, I stayed out of more than I should have."

Then she handed Olivia another document.

It was a loan application.

Daniel had used Olivia's name to guarantee a private loan.

$600,000.

Olivia stared at it.

"I never signed this."

Daniel's face went rigid.

Claire watched her understand.

Daniel had never planned to build a new life with Olivia using his fortune.

Because Daniel had no fortune.

He planned to steal Claire's.

And when Claire finally discovered the scheme, Olivia's forged signature would make her look involved.

"You used me."

Olivia stepped backward.

Daniel reached for her.

"Listen—"

She slapped him.

Hard.

People on the sidewalk turned.

Claire did not move.

Daniel looked at his wife.

Something desperate entered his face.

"Claire."

"No."

"We can fix this."

"There's nothing to fix."

"You can't take everything."

Claire tilted her head.

"I didn't."

Daniel frowned.

"You never had it."

That sentence hurt him more than anything else.

He had spent fourteen years believing he had built the Carter life.

In reality, he had been living inside Claire's.

The mansion.

The accounts.

The cars.

The private club.

Even the black card still frozen inside his wallet.

None belonged to him.

Then Claire delivered the final blow.

"By the way, your office access was terminated at noon."

Daniel stared.

"You fired me?"

"The board did."

"You control the board."

"I do."

His voice rose.

"You can't destroy my career because I cheated!"

Claire stepped closer.

"I didn't."

She took another document from her bag.

"For the affair, I'm divorcing you."

Then another.

"For the forged signatures, unauthorized transfers, and falsified loan documents..."

She looked toward the police car stopping at the curb.

"...that's someone else's problem."