Chapter 16 - Laura's Secret AccountLaura led Daniel into the office.
She opened her laptop.
For once, she didn't angle the screen away from him.
A brokerage account appeared.
Balance:
$487,216.
Daniel stared.
"Where did that come from?"
"My grandmother's inheritance."
"That was less than two hundred thousand."
"I invested it."
"For years?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't I know?"
"Because it was mine."
Daniel looked at her.
Legally, depending on how it had been maintained, she might be right.
That wasn't the part bothering him.
"You could have used your own money instead of Sophie's."
Laura closed her eyes.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid commingling it would make it marital."
Daniel stared in disbelief.
"So you protected your separate account by using our daughter's."
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"I know how horrible that sounds."
"It sounds horrible because it is horrible."
"I told myself I'd replace it."
"After getting money from me."
"Yes."
Daniel walked away.
Every explanation came back to the same thing.
Laura had wanted every option preserved.
Her separate property.
Access to marital assets.
The future house.
Custody leverage.
Mark.
Daniel.
She had refused to risk herself while requiring everyone else to absorb the risk.
"Transfer it back."
"I can't do the full amount today without legal and tax consequences."
"Then call the attorneys."
"I will."
"Not your divorce lawyer alone. Rebecca too."
Laura frowned.
"Your lawyer?"
"This is Sophie's money, not ours."
Laura nodded.
"Okay."
Daniel looked at her carefully.
"Why are you showing me this?"
"Because I'm done."
"Done with what?"
"Lying."
Daniel almost laughed.
"You've said versions of that before."
"I know."
"What's different?"
She looked toward the doorway.
"Sophie."
Daniel waited.
"Last night she asked if I was the reason you were sleeping downstairs."
Laura's voice broke.
"She asked if opening the closet ruined our family."
Daniel felt anger immediately.
"What did you tell her?"
"That she did nothing wrong."
"Good."
"Then she asked why I made her keep secrets from you."
Laura covered her mouth.
"I didn't know what to say."
Daniel's anger softened slightly.
Not for Laura.
For Sophie.
"Tell her adults make mistakes."
"An affair isn't a mistake."
Daniel looked at her.
Laura gave a sad smile.
"You've been saying that all day."
"Then what are you going to call it?"
"A choice."
Daniel said nothing.
"I made thousands of choices."
Her eyes filled.
"Answering Mark's first message. Meeting him alone. Kissing him three years ago. Not telling you. Calling him when I was angry. Believing what he said about Rachel because it gave me permission to feel betrayed first."
Daniel listened.
"Taking Sophie's money. Talking to Peter. Recording you. Waiting for Westbridge. Waiting for the anniversary."
Laura's voice became quieter.
"None of those things just happened."
For the first time, she wasn't blaming his schedule.
His company.
Loneliness.
Mark.
The prenup.
Daniel hated how much he had wanted to hear that.
Not because it repaired anything.
Because it made reality feel solid again.
"What do you want now?"
"I don't know."
"That's not good enough."
Laura nodded.
"I want Sophie protected."
"So do I."
"I want her money restored."
"Good."
"I want to stop Westbridge from becoming part of this."
Daniel studied her.
"And us?"
Laura looked at him.
"I want another chance."
There it was.
Daniel expected rage.
Instead he felt sadness.
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
"That didn't stop you before."
"No."
"So why should it matter now?"
"I don't know if it should."
Daniel looked away.
Laura continued.
"I don't expect you to forgive me because I'm finally afraid of losing you."
"Good."
"I don't expect you to trust me."
"Good."
"But I don't want to pretend I don't want it."
Daniel walked toward the window.
For years, he'd thought marriage problems were things people solved by trying harder.
Work less.
Talk more.
Take a vacation.
Now he understood some damage wasn't a scheduling issue.
"What happens if I say no?"
Laura's face crumpled slightly.
"I cooperate with the divorce."
"Financially?"
"Yes."
"Custody?"
"I won't use Sophie against you."
"Recordings?"
"I'll give them to both attorneys."
"Peter?"
"I'll tell him the truth."
"Mark?"
"Done."
Daniel turned.
"And the house?"
"Sell it."
He watched her.
"Even if your lawyer tells you not to?"
"Yes."
Daniel almost believed her.
Then her phone buzzed on the desk.
Neither moved.
It buzzed again.
Laura looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
Daniel noticed immediately.
"Who is it?"
"No one."
The word came automatically.
Then Laura stopped herself.
She closed her eyes.
Picked up the phone.
And handed it to Daniel.
A message from her attorney.
CLAIRE: DO NOT TRANSFER ANYTHING YET. IF DANIEL HASN'T DISCOVERED THE SECOND ACCOUNT, KEEP IT THAT WAY UNTIL WE FILE.
Daniel slowly looked up.
May you like
Laura's brokerage account wasn't the final secret.
There was another one.
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