THE WIFE HE UNDERESTIMATED

PART 2 — THE SECRET IN THE FOLDER

At noon, I sat in the office of Nathan Brooks, my former law-school friend and one of Boston’s most respected divorce attorneys.

He studied my documents.

“Three years of marriage. No children. A prenup. And you’re asking for what exactly?”

“My Marblehead waterfront property, my personal investment accounts, and everything I owned before marrying Aaron.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all I want from the marriage.”

He leaned back.

“Claire, most people would be demanding half of a CEO’s fortune.”

“I don’t want Aaron’s money.”

Nathan watched me carefully.

“Then why did you look so relieved when you walked out of his company?”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, I reached into my handbag and placed another folder on his desk.

“This is something I need you to examine.”

He opened it.

The first page contained my grandfather’s name.

The second showed an investment structure established more than fifteen years ago.

By the third page, Nathan had stopped turning pages.

“Claire…”

He looked up.

“Do you understand what this means?”

“I understand enough.”

Before I met Aaron, my grandfather had left me a substantial interest in a private investment holding company. Over the years, that company had quietly expanded its portfolio across technology, commercial real estate, and international investments.

I had never used that money to maintain Aaron’s lifestyle.

I had never mentioned it to his family.

And I had deliberately kept it separate from my marital finances.

Nathan closed the folder.

“Does Aaron know?”

“No.”

“Does his mother know?”

“No.”

He stared at me for several seconds.

“Then keep it that way until we understand every legal implication.”

I nodded.

My phone suddenly lit up.

A message from Aaron.

Claire, what the hell have you done? Take that ridiculous post down. You’re embarrassing me in front of my entire company.

Another message arrived.

Jasmine is an employee. You’re making yourself look unstable.

I showed Nathan.

He shook his head.

“Your husband seems more concerned about his reputation than his marriage.”

I almost laughed.

Then my phone rang again.

This time, it was an unfamiliar number.

I answered.

“Mrs. Prescott? This is Richard Hale. I’m on the board of Prescott Global.”

I sat straighter.

“Good afternoon.”

His voice dropped.

“I saw your message this morning. I don’t know what happened between you and Aaron, and frankly, that’s your private business.”

He paused.

“But there’s something you need to know before you sign that divorce settlement.”

“What is it?”

“Aaron has been making some very unusual financial decisions. And your name has appeared in a document connected to one of them.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“What document?”

“I can’t explain this over the phone. But Claire, whatever you do, don’t let Aaron’s attorneys rush you into signing anything.”

The call ended.

Nathan was already watching me.

“What happened?”

I slowly placed my phone on his desk.

“I think my husband has been hiding something much bigger than an affair.”