Chapter 4 - The Anniversary Gift
Michael checked the back door.
No forced entry.
The window locks were intact.
Nothing else appeared disturbed.
Whoever had entered the repair shop knew exactly what they wanted.
Page seventeen.
Willow called the hotel.
Helena’s assistant quietly retrieved Willow’s clutch and anniversary gifts.
One hour later, a courier delivered them.
Among the boxes was a long white envelope from Lucas.
Willow remembered him mentioning it before the party.
“A surprise for later.”
She opened it.
Inside was a set of legal documents.
MARITAL ASSET CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT.
Willow read the first page.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Her stomach turned.
The agreement transferred any “unknown, future, inherited, disputed, or subsequently discovered property interests” belonging to either spouse into the Sterling Family Marital Trust.
Helena went pale.
“He wanted you to sign this tonight?”
Willow remembered Lucas smiling as photographers arrived.
She remembered the champagne.
She remembered him saying there was “one boring anniversary form” they could sign after dessert.
Michael stared at the document.
“He knew.”
Willow looked up.
“No.”
“He knew there was something to inherit.”
“No.”
“Willow.”
She stood so quickly the chair scraped backward.
“He couldn’t have known.”
Michael did not argue.
He did not need to.
Five years earlier, Lucas Sterling had appeared at her small gallery during an opening.
He had been charming.
Patient.
Unexpectedly fascinated by her family.
He asked about her mother on their third date.
He asked whether Catherine had left any property.
At the time, Willow had thought he was trying to know her.
Now every question sounded different.
Her phone rang.
Lucas.
She stared at the screen.
Michael said nothing.
Willow answered.
“What?”
Lucas’s voice was controlled.
“You need to come home.”
“I don’t.”
“My father says Michael is lying.”
“Then why did you prepare an agreement transferring property I didn’t know existed?”
Silence.
Only three seconds.
But three seconds was enough.
“Standard estate planning,” Lucas finally said.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was the clause added two weeks ago?”
Another silence.
Willow’s hand tightened around the phone.
“How long have you known about my mother?”
Lucas exhaled slowly.
“You’re emotional.”
Willow almost laughed.
“That sentence just ended our marriage.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You slapped me.”
“You humiliated me.”
Willow closed her eyes.
There it was.
Not regret.
Not shame.
Just blame.
Lucas lowered his voice.
“Do not let your father manipulate you into destroying everything we built.”
Willow looked around the repair shop.
At the chipped floor.
At her father’s tools.
At her mother’s files.
Then she asked the question that made Lucas stop breathing.
May you like
“Lucas, did you marry me because of Catherine’s shares?”
The line went completely silent.
