Chapter 2: The Woman With the Folder
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The terminal continued functioning around us.
Suitcases rolled across polished floors. Children laughed near the boarding gates. A security announcement echoed overhead.
But Tyler stood frozen.
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at the woman holding the folder.
Then back at Vanessa.
"Explain that," he demanded.
Vanessa adjusted the strap of her handbag.
"Tyler, this isn't the place.""
"She just called you my wife.""
"She's exaggerating.""
The woman stepped closer.
"My name is Rachel Bennett. And unless the divorce papers you signed last year were somehow imaginary, I'm still legally married to Vanessa.""
Tyler stared at her.
Rachel placed the folder on a nearby luggage counter.
Inside were photographs.
Marriage certificates.
Bank statements.
And printed copies of messages.
"I've been married to Vanessa for six years," Rachel continued.
"We separated eleven months ago. She moved out, but we never finalized our divorce.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Rachel, you don't need to do this.""
"Actually, I do.""
Rachel pulled out a photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside a man in a navy uniform.
Tyler.
The photograph had been taken aboard the Ocean Majesty.
Rachel slid it toward him.
"She told me she was attending a hospitality conference in Florida. Apparently, that conference lasted five months.""
Tyler looked at the picture.
"Vanessa, you told me you were divorced.""
"I was going to explain.""
"When?""
"When things settled down.""
Tyler laughed bitterly.
"You let me believe you were single.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"And you let me believe your marriage was basically over.""
I almost laughed.
Basically over.
I'd been changing diapers at three in the morning while this woman apparently believed I was an inconvenience from Tyler's past.
Michael stepped between them.
"Enough. This is a company matter now.""
Tyler turned toward him.
"Michael, I can explain.""
"Can you?""
"Yes. This is personal.""
Michael looked at me.
Then at my daughters.
"Your wife has been trying to contact our corporate office for six weeks.""
Tyler's expression changed.
"What?""
I adjusted Poppy in my arms.
"I didn't want to do this at the airport.""
"Then why are you here?"" he snapped.
Michael answered for me.
"Because she requested an in-person meeting with the executive compliance department. And because we discovered some serious irregularities involving your position aboard the ship.""
Tyler shook his head.
"This is ridiculous.""
Michael took a breath.
"Emily, would you like to sit down?""
I nodded.
He guided me toward a private seating area near the terminal's administrative offices.
A security employee brought two chairs.
I settled Piper and Poppy into their double stroller.
Tyler followed us.
"Emily, what have you been telling these people?""
I looked at him.
"The truth.""
"You've been talking to my employer behind my back?""
"Yes.""
"About what?""
I reached into my handbag.
For months, I'd carried a small black notebook.
Inside were dates, screenshots, receipts, and notes I'd written whenever something didn't make sense.
I placed it on the table.
"About the money you told me was being transferred to our family account.""
Tyler's face tightened.
Michael opened the folder.
"According to our payroll records, Mr. Mitchell received his full salary throughout his assignment. He also received a housing allowance and a family support supplement.""
Tyler nodded impatiently.
"Exactly.""
Michael continued.
"However, the family support supplement was paid into an account registered under your wife's name, using bank information that was changed without her authorization.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Tyler immediately interrupted.
"That's an accounting issue.""
Michael looked at him.
"An accounting issue involving approximately forty-eight thousand dollars.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Forty-eight thousand.
Tyler had told me his employer had temporarily suspended some benefits because of administrative problems.
He'd asked me to use our savings until the payments resumed.
I'd sold some jewelry to cover the mortgage.
I'd delayed replacing my car tires.
I'd even stopped buying formula in bulk because I was afraid we wouldn't have enough money.
Meanwhile, he had apparently been receiving money intended for us.
"Where did it go?"" I asked.
Tyler didn't answer.
Michael turned another page.
"Several transfers went to a private account. Others were used for travel expenses and luxury purchases.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"That's enough. I'm leaving.""
Rachel caught her wrist.
"Not before you explain the transfers from our joint account.""
Vanessa pulled away.
"Let go of me!""
A security officer approached.
Michael raised one hand.
"Nobody is being detained. But nobody is leaving until we finish documenting this incident.""
Tyler leaned toward me.
"Emily, listen. We can discuss this at home.""
I looked at his mouth.
The lipstick had faded, but a faint pink stain remained near the corner.
"Which home?"" I asked.
He frowned.
"Our home.""
"You haven't asked to hold your daughters.""
He glanced at the stroller.
"I was surprised.""
"You haven't asked how they sleep. You haven't asked what they eat. You haven't even asked which one is Piper.""
His jaw tightened.
"Don't turn this into something it isn't.""
I reached into the stroller and gently adjusted Poppy's blanket.
"Then tell me. Which one is your daughter?""
He hesitated.
His eyes moved between the babies.
I watched him struggle.
Finally, he pointed.
"That one.""
"Which one?""
He said nothing.
Rachel looked away.
Michael closed the folder.
"Tyler, your employment status is being placed under immediate review. Effective today, you are relieved of your managerial duties pending an investigation.""
Tyler shot to his feet.
"You can't do that!""
"I just did.""
"You need me!""
Michael's voice remained calm.
"No, Tyler. We needed you to do your job honestly.""
Tyler turned toward me.
His eyes were no longer angry.
They were pleading.
"Emily. Tell him this is a misunderstanding.""
I stood slowly.
"Tyler, I came here to welcome you home.""
He stepped closer.
"Then let's go home.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
"That's the problem. You don't have a home to come back to.""
His phone began ringing.
He glanced at the screen.
Vanessa's name appeared.
Then a second notification popped up beneath it.
A message from an unknown number.
I couldn't see the entire text.
But I saw enough to notice the first sentence.
*You promised me Emily would never find out about the second family.*
Tyler snatched his phone.
Too late.
May you like
I had already seen it.
And suddenly, forty-eight thousand dollars didn't seem like the biggest secret he'd been hiding.
