Part 4: The Debt of Lies
Inside the folder was indeed a petition for divorce—but that was only the cover page.
Behind it lay a thick stack of financial audits, bank statements, and signed affidavits from a forensic accountant.
For the past two years, Derek had been quietly funneling money from Skylar’s business accounts into a shell company he had set up under Suzanne’s name. He had convinced himself he was a financial genius, slowly skimming off the top to build a nest egg that Skylar would never notice.
He was wrong.
Skylar, an executive financial director, had tracked every single cent from the very first transfer. She had simply been waiting for the right moment to strike.
A letter from Skylar’s attorney accompanied the documents:
“Mr. Vance, your systematic embezzlement of my client’s corporate funds has been fully documented. The total amount stolen over the last twenty-four months stands at $340,000. Under Florida law, this constitutes grand theft.
My client has filed a civil suit to freeze all assets associated with ‘Vance Holdings’—the shell company registered to your sister, Suzanne. Furthermore, we have submitted these financial audits to the State Attorney’s office alongside the domestic violence report from tonight.
You have two choices: sign the uncontested divorce agreement relinquishing all claims to any marital assets and agree to pay full restitution, or face immediate criminal prosecution for both domestic assault and grand larceny.”
Suzanne snatched the paper from his hands, her eyes scanning the text. Her face drained of all color. “My company? My name is on those accounts, Derek! If the state investigates this, I’m going to prison!”
“Shut up, Suzanne! Let me think!” Derek roared, his hands shaking violently.
But before he could even begin to process the ruin of his financial life, the intercom by the front door began to buzz loudly, echoing through the empty apartment.
Derek answered the intercom, expecting Skylar’s lawyers, but the voice on the other end delivered the final blow… Read the Final Part 5 below.
