Chapter 2 - The Secret Derek Was Desperate to Hide
The ride through Boston was silent.
I sat in the back seat with my hands folded over my stomach.
Dominic sat beside me.
He didn't touch me.
He didn't ask unnecessary questions.
He simply stared out the window as the city lights moved across his face.
Finally, I couldn't stand the silence.
“What do you know about my husband?”
“Enough.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“But it's the only one you'll get tonight.”
I frowned.
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“Because you need to understand something before you go home.”
He looked at me.
“Your marriage is not the only thing Derek is trying to destroy.”
“What else?”
“Your financial independence.”
My breath caught.
“How?”
“He has been moving assets.”
I shook my head.
“We have a joint account.”
“Exactly.”
“He wouldn't.”
Dominic looked at me.
“You said that as if you were still describing the man you married.”
The words hurt because they were true.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at a private office building overlooking the harbor.
I expected luxury.
Instead, the lobby was almost empty.
Dominic led me upstairs.
A woman in her fifties waited there.
“Ms. Bennett,” she said.
“Who are you?”
“Elaine. Mr. Moretti's attorney.”
Dominic nodded toward her.
“Show her.”
Elaine opened a folder.
Inside were bank statements.
Property transfers.
Company filings.
I stared at the numbers.
“Where did you get these?”
“Public records,” she said. “Some were harder to obtain.”
Dominic stood behind me.
“Derek has been transferring marital assets into a company called DKB Holdings.”
I knew that company.
“It owns our rental properties.”
“Correction,” Elaine said.
“It owns properties you thought belonged to you.”
My heart sank.
“How?”
“Derek created the company eighteen months after your wedding.”
“But those properties came from my inheritance.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Exactly.”
I stared at the documents.
My father had left me an apartment building and two commercial properties before he died.
Derek had convinced me to consolidate everything for tax purposes.
He had told me it was safer.
Now I understood.
He had moved my inheritance.
Without telling me.
I felt sick.
“Can he do this?”
Elaine shook her head.
“Not legally.”
“Then why hasn't anyone stopped him?”
“Because you signed documents.”
My throat tightened.
“I didn't.”
Elaine slid another page across the desk.
It contained a signature that looked like mine.
But something about it felt wrong.
I touched the paper.
“I never signed this.”
Dominic looked at the signature.
“You're certain?”
“I am.”
Elaine nodded.
“Then someone forged your signature.”
I sat down.
The baby kicked.
I pressed my palm against my belly.
“She knows,” I whispered.
Dominic looked at me.
“Who?”
“My daughter.”
He didn't smile.
But something softened in his eyes.
“You're having a girl?”
I nodded.
“Derek hasn't even chosen a name.”
Dominic was quiet.
Then he asked:
“What are you going to do?”
I looked up.
“I don't know.”
“Do you want to leave him?”
My lips parted.
For months, I had imagined that question.
I had never said the answer aloud.
“Yes.”
It came out quietly.
Then stronger.
“Yes.”
Dominic nodded.
“Good.”
I almost laughed.
“That's it?”
“No.”
He looked at Elaine.
“Find her an attorney.”
Elaine nodded.
Then Dominic looked at me.
“Not mine.”
I frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because I need you to win.”
His voice became colder.
“If I'm your attorney, Derek can claim you manipulated the situation through me.”
He stepped closer.
“You need someone who represents you alone.”
I hadn't expected that.
For the first time, I felt something other than fear when I looked at Dominic.
Respect.
The next morning, I met with a family law attorney.
Her name was Natalie Foster.
She was direct.
Practical.
Unimpressed by Derek's money.
She reviewed the documents and immediately began building a case.
“First, we protect your personal accounts.”
“Can he freeze them?”
“He already tried.”
She showed me the bank notification.
I stared.
Derek had attempted to restrict access to the joint accounts while simultaneously transferring funds elsewhere.
Natalie sighed.
“He isn't trying to save this marriage.”
“No.”
“He's trying to control the divorce.”
I nodded.
“He's scared.”
“Of losing money?”
“No.”
I thought of Dominic.
“Of losing something bigger.”
That evening, Derek appeared at the house.
He didn't knock.
He had a key.
I was sitting in the nursery.
The walls were pale green.
A crib stood near the window.
Derek walked in.
“Where have you been?”
“Out.”
“With him?”
I turned.
“With whom?”
“Don't play stupid.”
“Dominic?”
His expression darkened.
“He has nothing to do with our marriage.”
“Neither does Vanessa, apparently.”
He ignored that.
“You need to stop talking to him.”
“Why?”
“Because he's dangerous.”
I smiled bitterly.
“And you aren't?”
He stepped closer.
“I can protect you.”
“You're the reason I need protection.”
His jaw tightened.
“Khloe.”
“No.”
I stood carefully.
“I'm done.”
He stared at me.
“You don't mean that.”
“I do.”
“You're six months pregnant.”
“I know.”
“You need me.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“You don't even know what you're saying.”
I pointed toward the nursery.
“The one thing I need is the truth.”
He went silent.
Then he said:
“There is no child.”
My body went cold.
“What?”
He stared directly at my stomach.
“Not the way you think.”
I couldn't breathe.
“You're lying.”
“Am I?”
He smiled.
“You've trusted doctors, haven't you?”
My hands trembled.
“What are you saying?”
He walked toward the door.
“You should ask Dominic.”
Then he left.
I stood frozen.
Five minutes later, my phone rang.
Dominic.
I answered immediately.
“What did Derek mean?”
Silence.
Then Dominic said:
“Khloe, listen carefully.”
My heart hammered.
“Your pregnancy is real.”
I exhaled.
“But there is something else you need to know.”
“What?”
“Derek has already arranged for another woman to claim your baby after birth.”
My stomach dropped.
“Who?”
Dominic hesitated.
“Vanessa.”
I couldn't speak.
“He isn't planning to stay married to you.”
Dominic continued.
“He is planning to make you disappear from the child's life.”
I gripped the phone.
“How?”
“By making you look unstable.”
The room blurred.
“He has been collecting evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Arguments. Emotional moments. Medical records.”
I remembered every time he had pushed me until I cried.
Every time he had secretly recorded a fight.
Every time he had called me irrational.
It all made sense.
“He wants full custody.”
“Yes.”
“And Vanessa?”
“She wants your place.”
I closed my eyes.
“Then I'll fight.”
Dominic's answer came immediately.
“I know.”
I opened my eyes.
“How?”
“Because I've already seen the woman you're becoming.”
I swallowed.
“Dominic…”
“Yes?”
“Why are you helping me?”
A pause.
Then:
“Because six months ago, your husband came into my office and asked me to destroy someone.”
“Who?”
May you like
Dominic's voice became quiet.
“You.”
