The Last Gift

PART 3 — THE SECRET IN THE PAPERS

Monday morning, Dominic arrived at his office expecting a normal day.

Instead, his attorney, Richard Hale, was waiting outside his private office.

“Dominic, we need to discuss something.”

Dominic tossed his keys onto the desk.

“If this is about Claire, tell her lawyer I’ll have the papers reviewed.”

Richard hesitated.

“There’s another matter.”

“What?”

Richard placed a thick folder on the desk.

“Your wife’s financial arrangements.”

Dominic opened it impatiently.

“What financial arrangements?”

Richard pointed to several documents.

“Claire has retained independent counsel. She’s also requested a full accounting of the assets acquired during your marriage.”

“So?”

“So, there are several properties and investments that require clarification.”

Dominic frowned.

“What properties?”

Richard turned another page.

Dominic’s eyes stopped moving.

There was a commercial property in downtown Chicago.

A substantial investment account.

And a collection of shares in a company he had acquired six years earlier.

“Why is Claire listed here?”

Richard adjusted his glasses.

“Because she was the original investor.”

Dominic stared at him.

“That company was purchased with my money.”

“Not entirely.”

Richard explained that before Dominic’s business empire had become successful, Claire had used money inherited from her grandmother to help finance one of his earliest ventures.

Dominic remembered the money.

He had always assumed it was a small contribution.

Apparently, the legal ownership documents told a different story.

“Are you telling me my wife owns part of my company?”

“I’m telling you that her name is on documents you signed years ago.”

Dominic slammed the folder shut.

“Get me her lawyer.”

Richard remained silent.

Then his phone buzzed.

A message from his assistant appeared.

Mr. Vale, Mrs. Vale’s attorney has confirmed that she will not be returning to the mansion. She has also requested that all future communication go through legal counsel.

Dominic stared at the screen.

For the first time, he realized Claire wasn’t waiting for him to apologize.

She was preparing to leave him permanently.

Across town, Claire sat in Rachel Monroe’s office, signing the final authorization.

Rachel reviewed the documents.

“Once this proceeds, Dominic’s attorneys will have to address every shared asset. Are you prepared for the confrontation?”

Claire looked through the window at the Chicago skyline.

“I spent seven years being afraid of his anger.”

She placed the pen down.

“I’m not spending another day afraid of my future.”

Rachel smiled faintly.

“Then we’re ready.”

Claire picked up her coat and walked toward the door.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Dominic appeared.

Come home. We need to talk.

She read it once.

Then she turned off her phone.

Dominic Vale had spent years making his wife feel powerless.

But he had forgotten one important detail.

Before he became a powerful businessman, before the expensive cars and the mansion, before Chicago learned to fear his name…

Claire had been the person who believed in him.

And now, she was finally going to discover what she could become without him.

To be continued…