Chapter 2 - The Lioness Awakes
Claire sat in a sleek, high-rise office downtown, staring out at the city skyline. A thick white bandage covered the left side of her jaw and neck, a constant, throbbing reminder of the price of her freedom.
Miriam Cole walked in, sliding a thick black binder onto the glass desk.
"The forensic accountant just sent over the final breakdown," Miriam said, her eyes fierce and protective. "Daniel didn't just steal from your personal account, Claire. He’s been systematically embezzling from the private lending company your father left you."
Claire felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "How much?"
"Over the last three years? Close to $650,000," Miriam replied, sitting down. "He set up shell companies under Vanessa’s name. Those 'suspicious transfers' your bank flagged? They weren't mistakes. Vanessa was laundering your father's inheritance money to fund her lavish lifestyle, her designer bags, and now, this supposed beauty studio."
Claire touched the bandage on her face. The physical pain was nothing compared to the deep, burning anger growing inside her. For eight years, she had played the role of the quiet, submissive wife. She had let Daniel believe he was the provider while she silently managed the vast wealth her father had secured for her.
"What's our next move?" Claire asked, her voice steady and devoid of the tears she had cried in the hospital.
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"We file for a fault divorce on the grounds of extreme cruelty and financial fraud," Miriam said with a sharp smile. "But more importantly, we hand this binder over to the District Attorney. Daniel thinks this is a domestic dispute. We are going to make it a federal criminal case."
Claire looked at her reflection in the dark glass window. The timid girl who shrunk away from her husband’s anger was gone. In her place stood the true heir of Vance Financial.
