Chapter 1 - The Turtle on My Forehead“At 9:47 p.m., someone electronically signed a document using your name.”
Daniel's words echoed through the hotel room.
I sat completely still.
“What document?”
“A power-of-attorney agreement.”
My stomach dropped.
“To whom?”
Daniel finally answered.
“Derek.”
I closed my eyes.
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
The shaved head.
The marker.
The laughter.
The clippers.
The humiliation.
None of it had been random.
It had been a distraction.
A performance designed to make me emotional, confused, and embarrassed while something far more important happened behind the scenes.
“What exactly did the document authorize?”
“Control over your father's investment account.”
“How much?”
“Eight-point-four million dollars.”
My hand flew to my mouth.
My father had left me several accounts, but the largest had always been managed by an investment firm under a family trust.
Derek knew about it.
He had asked questions over the years.
But I had never given him access.
“Can he move the money?”
“Not yet.”
I exhaled.
“Why not?”
“Because the signature triggered an additional verification process.”
“Can we stop it?”
“I'm already working on it.”
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
The ridiculous turtle.
The shaved head.
Derek behind me.
Kayla holding the clippers.
And the time stamp.
9:47 p.m.
Daniel continued.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“The document was created at 9:31.”
I frowned.
“I was unconscious.”
“I know.”
“So someone used my phone.”
“Probably.”
I looked at my phone.
“What about my passcode?”
“Did Derek know it?”
“Yes.”
Daniel went silent.
That hurt more than I expected.
Because suddenly every strange moment from the previous year returned.
Derek asking to borrow my phone.
Derek claiming he needed my password to synchronize our devices.
Derek insisting that married couples shouldn't have secrets.
I had thought those things were annoying.
Now they looked like preparation.
“Daniel?”
“I'm here.”
“What do I do?”
“Nothing impulsive.”
“I want to go home.”
“No.”
“Daniel—”
“Absolutely not.”
His voice became firm.
“Rachel, if Derek thinks the plan worked, let him keep thinking it worked.”
I stared at myself in the mirror.
The turtle was still there.
“Do you know what he told me?”
“What?”
“He said I was crying over hair.”
Daniel was silent.
Then:
“Let him think that's all you're upset about.”
A strange calm settled over me.
For the first time since waking up, I smiled.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“I'll let him think he won.”
The next morning, Derek called.
I stared at his name.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
“Rachel?”
His voice sounded concerned.
Almost convincing.
“Where are you?”
“At a hotel.”
“You left?”
“Yes.”
“Because of a joke?”
I almost laughed.
“A joke?”
“You know we were celebrating our anniversary.”
“You drugged me.”
Silence.
Then a long exhale.
“You're imagining things.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“I woke up unconscious.”
“You fell asleep.”
“My hair was shaved.”
“Kayla thought it would be funny.”
“And the turtle?”
“Kayla.”
“Of course.”
I heard him sigh.
“Rachel, come home.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“You're making this bigger than it is.”
I looked at the photograph.
“No, Derek.”
My voice was calm.
“I think you're making it much bigger than you realize.”
He paused.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
Then I hung up.
Daniel called five minutes later.
“Good.”
“What?”
“You didn't accuse him of the transfer.”
“No.”
“Excellent.”
“What's next?”
“We wait.”
“For what?”
“For them to make another mistake.”
May you like
Three hours later, Daniel sent me a message.
They just did.
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