Chapter 4 - THE HOME HE HAD ALREADY GIVEN AWAY
I didn’t tell Dominic immediately.
I wanted facts before fury.
That was one lesson my mother had taught me.
Never accuse a liar with half the truth.
They’ll use the missing half to escape.
I stepped onto the terrace and called my attorney, Claire Bennett.
“What happened?”
“The penthouse title was transferred out of the holding company three weeks ago.”
“Dominic owns the holding company.”
“Owned.”
My stomach tightened.
“Keep going.”
The apartment had originally been purchased through Vale Residential Holdings during our second year of marriage.
Marital funds paid most expenses.
My family trust had covered the initial down payment through a loan Dominic believed came from a private bank.
Again.
A secret I now regretted.
Three weeks earlier, Vale Residential transferred the unit to VQ Chicago Residences for nominal consideration.
One hundred dollars.
“Can he do that?”
“He can sign paperwork.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Claire’s tone sharpened.
“No. Not cleanly.”
Especially not after he had already begun discussing divorce with counsel.
Asset transfers designed to hide or remove marital property could become a serious issue.
“Who owns VQ?”
“We’re tracing it.”
I already knew.
Or thought I did.
Across the glass doors, Vanessa stood near Dominic.
He was angry.
She was whispering.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
Claire continued.
“There’s another complication.”
“What?”
“The registered manager for VQ Chicago Residences isn’t Vanessa Quinn.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
“Her brother.”
I knew almost nothing about Vanessa’s family.
Dominic once said she came from a “good East Coast background.”
That usually meant he didn’t know either.
“Name?”
“Elliot Quinn.”
Richard joined me on the terrace.
He could tell from my expression something had happened.
Claire continued.
“Elliot Quinn is not just her brother.”
“What does he do?”
“He works for Halstead Marine Partners.”
Richard heard the name through the phone.
His face hardened.
Halstead was Vale Maritime’s largest private competitor on the Great Lakes.
Suddenly the penthouse transfer looked less like a love gift and more like a pathway.
“Send everything to Richard’s counsel too,” I said.
Dominic pushed through the terrace doors.
“Evelyn.”
I ended the call.
“We’re leaving.”
He stared at Richard.
“We?”
“Yes.”
“You’re still coming home.”
“No.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You told me to be out by morning.”
His face tightened.
“I was angry.”
“You were dressed for a gala with your mistress.”
“Lower your voice.”
I smiled.
There it was.
Dominic could humiliate me privately.
But God forbid Chicago hear.
“I am leaving.”
“You are not taking trust documents.”
“They’re mine.”
“You’re my wife.”
“Not a storage locker.”
Richard stepped between us slightly.
Dominic noticed.
“Stay out of my marriage.”
Richard’s expression became cold enough to change the temperature.
“I stayed out of your marriage for eight years.”
A pause.
“That was Evelyn’s request.”
Dominic looked at me.
That hurt him.
Good.
Not because Richard threatened him.
Because he realized my silence had protected him from a man he feared owing.
Then Vanessa stepped onto the terrace.
“Dominic, we should go.”
I looked at her.
“Where?”
She blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“To the penthouse?”
Her face changed.
Dominic’s did too.
I had my answer.
“You know about VQ Chicago Residences.”
Vanessa turned to Dominic.
“What did she say?”
I laughed softly.
“So you do.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“This isn’t the place.”
“No. Apparently the place is my home.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don’t own your penthouse.”
“Your brother manages the company that does.”
That hit harder.
Her face went blank.
“My brother?”
Dominic stared at her.
For the first time that evening, he looked genuinely confused.
“Elliot?”
Vanessa’s voice sharpened.
“What did you do?”
Now I was confused.
Dominic looked at both of us.
“I transferred the unit to the LLC you gave legal.”
“I never gave legal an LLC.”
Silence.
Richard’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
Then looked at me.
“Our counsel traced VQ.”
“Who owns it?”
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
“Not her.”
May you like
Then toward Dominic.
“Halstead Marine does.”
