The Penthouse Was Hers

Part 2: The Woman Who Owned Everything

The next morning, at exactly 9:00 a.m., Gabrielle Bennett walked into the lobby of Riverside Tower.

She wore a tailored ivory suit, elegant black heels, and carried a small leather handbag. Her dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders.

Two security officers immediately recognized her.

“Good morning, Mrs. Bennett.”

“Good morning. Is my guest still upstairs?”

The property manager, Mr. Collins, approached with a tablet in his hand.

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Bennett and the woman who accompanied him are still inside. They ordered breakfast this morning.”

Gabrielle smiled faintly.

“Wonderful. Please have the private elevator prepared.”

As the elevator climbed toward the forty-seventh floor, Gabrielle reviewed the documents on her phone.

Her attorney, Victoria Hayes, had sent everything she needed.

There was something even worse than Trevor’s affair.

For the past three months, Trevor had been secretly contacting several financial institutions, attempting to use Gabrielle’s personal information to secure loans against properties he claimed were marital assets.

He had also instructed his attorney to prepare divorce papers accusing Gabrielle of being financially dependent on him.

But the most outrageous discovery was a document listing the Riverside Penthouse as property acquired through Trevor’s personal business earnings.

He had even forged her electronic authorization.

Gabrielle’s expression hardened.

He hadn’t simply underestimated her.

He had attempted to steal from her.

The elevator doors opened.

Gabrielle stepped into the penthouse.

Courtney was standing in the kitchen wearing a silk robe, holding a cup of coffee. Trevor was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.

Neither noticed Gabrielle immediately.

“Trevor, darling, I think we should change the curtains,” Courtney said. “I want something lighter. And perhaps we should replace the furniture in the guest bedroom.”

“Whatever you want, sweetheart. This is your home now.”

Gabrielle cleared her throat.

“How generous of you.”

Trevor looked up.

His smile disappeared.

“Gabrielle?”

Courtney turned around, nearly dropping her coffee.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Trevor stood abruptly.

“What are you doing here?”

Gabrielle glanced around the room.

“That’s an interesting question. I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Trevor recovered quickly.

“This isn’t a good time. We need to talk somewhere else.”

“Why? You seemed perfectly comfortable discussing our divorce yesterday.”

His face changed.

“What are you talking about?”

Gabrielle took out her phone.

“Would you like me to play the recording?”

She pressed a button.

Trevor’s own voice filled the living room.

“Gabrielle will walk away with almost nothing.”

Then Courtney’s voice followed.

“Will we really get to stay here?”

“Of course. I bought this place for our future.”

The recording stopped.

Courtney slowly turned toward Trevor.

“You told me you owned this apartment.”

Trevor rubbed his forehead.

“Gabrielle, you’re taking things out of context.”

“Am I?”

Gabrielle walked toward the enormous windows overlooking the Chicago River.

“Let’s clarify a few things. This penthouse cost twenty million dollars. I purchased it in cash. The deed is registered under Monarch Property Group, a company I own entirely.”

Trevor stared at her.

“What?”

“Every piece of furniture, every painting, every marble countertop. I paid for all of it.”

Courtney’s face turned pale.

See more Stories :

“Trevor, what’s she talking about?”

He ignored her.

“Gabrielle, why didn’t you tell me you owned this place?”

She turned around.

“Why would I tell you? You never showed the slightest interest in what I did.”

“You’re my wife!”

“Yes. And apparently, according to your plans, I’m also the woman you’re divorcing and stealing from.”

Trevor stepped closer.

“Listen to me. We can settle this privately.”

Gabrielle laughed softly.

“You brought your pregnant mistress into my home, promised her my property, and tried to forge my authorization. I think we’ve passed the point of private discussions.”

At that moment, the front door opened.

Victoria Hayes entered carrying a thick folder.

“Good morning, Gabrielle.”

“Good morning, Victoria.”

Trevor looked between them.

“Who is this?”

“My attorney.”

Victoria placed the folder on the dining table.

“Mr. Bennett, I believe you’ll want to review these documents. They concern your unauthorized financial applications and the attempted misrepresentation of property ownership.”

Trevor’s confidence began to crumble.

“You can’t prove anything.”

Victoria opened the folder.

“We have the security footage, electronic correspondence, banking records, and the original property documents. We also have the records showing that the authorization you submitted did not originate from Mrs. Bennett.”

Trevor went completely silent.

Courtney stepped away from him.

“You told me you were a successful businessman.”

“I am!”

“Then why did you tell me this apartment was yours?”

Trevor snapped.

“Stay out of this!”

Gabrielle looked at Courtney.

“One more thing. I suggest you ask him about the money he promised to use for your son’s future.”

Courtney frowned.

“What money?”

Victoria opened another document.

“According to these records, Mr. Bennett has been using personal loans to finance his lifestyle. Several payments were made to support expenses associated with your pregnancy.”

Courtney looked horrified.

“Trevor, you told me you had millions!”

He didn’t answer.

Gabrielle picked up her handbag.

“Mr. Collins will arrange for your belongings to be collected. You have one hour to leave my penthouse.”

Trevor’s face turned red.

“You can’t throw me out! I’m your husband!”

Gabrielle looked directly into his eyes.

“Not for much longer.”

Then she walked toward the elevator.

Behind her, Courtney began crying.

And Trevor finally understood something he should have understood eight years earlier.

His wife wasn’t the woman who needed his money.

She was the woman who had never needed it.