Chapter 4 - THE COMPANY HE NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT
Caspian Automotive Holdings had existed before our marriage.
That meant Garrick’s secrets had started before our wedding cake was cut.
Marcus spent the next day untangling the corporate filings.
The company had no employees.
No office.
No public website.
But it had received hundreds of thousands of dollars connected to Garrick’s dealership.
“Why hide money in a second company?” I asked.
Marcus answered carefully.
“Sometimes businesses use holding companies legitimately.”
“And sometimes?”
“They move assets where a spouse won’t see them.”
Abigail sat beside my hospital bed.
“Your husband expected the marriage to end.”
The words hurt more than I wanted them to.
Not because I still wanted Garrick.
Because I remembered all the times he had kissed my forehead and told me we were building something together.
Apparently he had been building an exit.
Just not for me.
Amelia stirred in the bassinet.
I picked her up.
My daughter had been alive less than forty-eight hours, and her father still hadn’t called.
Then my phone rang.
Eleanor.
Abigail nodded.
“Answer. Speaker.”
I did.
“What?”
Eleanor sounded annoyed.
“We’re trying to enjoy breakfast, Clara. Garrick said you’ve been sending dramatic messages.”
“I had his daughter.”
“Yes, women give birth every day.”
My jaw tightened.
“Anything else?”
“Actually, yes. Garrick needs you to sign something when we return. Business paperwork.”
Abigail’s eyes narrowed.
“What paperwork?”
“It’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”
I almost smiled.
“Try me.”
There was a pause.
Then Eleanor said, “A temporary transfer relating to the house.”
Abigail silently began recording notes.
“I thought Garrick owned the house,” I said.
“He practically does.”
“Practically?”
Eleanor’s voice sharpened.
“Don’t start playing games. Everything you have came from this family.”
I looked around my private hospital room.
Then at my daughter.
Then at Abigail.
“No, Eleanor.”
I spoke calmly.
“Everything your son has came from mine.”
She hung up.
Two hours later, Marcus called again.
He had finally located Caspian Automotive’s original formation documents.
There was a second person listed in the confidential banking records.
Not an owner.
A beneficiary.
When Marcus said the name, Abigail stood up.
May you like
It was Eleanor Sterling.
And Caspian had been quietly paying her $12,000 every month since my wedding.
