Chapter 4: The Account in My Name
I didn't sleep that night.
At 2:17 a.m., I was sitting at our kitchen table with every light in the apartment turned on.
The photograph remained open on my phone.
One million two hundred thousand dollars.
An account in my name.
An account I had never opened.
I searched my email for the bank's name, but nothing appeared.
I checked my credit card statements.
Nothing.
I checked the financial folder Daniel kept in his office.
The folder was locked.
I had never questioned it before.
Daniel handled most of our investments. He said he understood the financial world better than I did.
I had trusted him because I thought marriage meant we didn't need to guard ourselves against each other.
Now I wondered whether he had chosen me partly because I trusted too easily.
At 7:30, I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"Emily?""
"I need help.""
"I'm coming over.""
Twenty-five minutes later, she arrived carrying coffee and a large handbag.
She didn't ask how I was feeling.
She simply sat beside me and examined the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"An unknown number.""
"Did you respond?""
"No.""
"Good.""
She studied the account details.
Then she called someone.
"Richard, it's Margaret. I need you to contact your attorney. Today. And ask him to investigate an account opened in Emily's name.""
She listened.
Then her expression changed.
"What do you mean, you already know about it?""
I looked at her.
Margaret slowly lowered the phone.
"Richard says the account is connected to a company Daniel established two years ago.""
I stood.
"What?""
"He believes Daniel used your personal information to register the company.""
"Without my permission?""
"That's what the attorney is investigating.""
My chest tightened.
I walked to the window.
Outside, Chicago was covered in a thin layer of snow.
People hurried along the sidewalk carrying coffee cups and shopping bags.
The world was continuing as though nothing had happened.
"Margaret, I want to see a lawyer.""
"Richard has arranged an appointment for ten.""
"Good.""
She reached for my hand.
"Emily, I want you to understand something. You don't owe my family loyalty at the expense of your own safety.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you helping me?""
She seemed surprised.
"Because you're my daughter-in-law.""
"Daniel is your son.""
Her eyes became glossy.
"That doesn't mean I have to protect what he's done.""
At ten, we met Richard's attorney, a woman named Caroline Whitmore.
Her office was in a glass building overlooking the Chicago River.
Caroline was in her early forties, with dark hair pulled into a neat bun and a voice that made every sentence sound deliberate.
She reviewed the documents without interrupting.
Then she looked at me.
"Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask you several questions.""
"Go ahead.""
"Did you ever authorize Daniel to use your Social Security number to establish a business?""
"No.""
"Did you sign any banking documents during the past two years?""
"Only our joint mortgage paperwork.""
"Did you ever receive deposits into an account with this bank?""
"No.""
She nodded.
"Have you ever given your husband permission to sign your name?""
"No.""
Caroline placed her pen down.
"Then we have several serious issues to investigate.""
She explained that the account might have been used to move money through a company registered under my identity.
If that was true, I could be exposed to tax liabilities and legal complications.
My hands went cold.
"Could I be blamed for money I never received?""
"That's why we're acting quickly. We need to establish that you did not authorize these transactions.""
Richard leaned forward.
"How much has moved through the account?""
Caroline opened a spreadsheet.
"Based on the preliminary records, approximately one million two hundred thousand dollars entered the account over eighteen months.""
Margaret covered her mouth.
I stared at the screen.
"Where did it come from?""
"Several sources. Two private investment companies, one property management firm, and an account connected to Bennett Commercial Holdings.""
Richard's face hardened.
"That's impossible.""
Caroline looked at him.
"Why?""
"Those funds were designated for a development project in Evanston.""
"Then we need to examine the original transfers.""
I turned toward Richard.
"Could Daniel have stolen company money?""
Richard didn't answer.
Caroline did.
"We shouldn't use that word until we have a complete investigation. But the records indicate unauthorized transfers may have occurred.""
I felt sick.
Daniel hadn't simply cheated on me.
He might have used my identity to conceal financial activity.
Caroline asked me to stay while she contacted the bank's fraud department.
During the call, she requested an immediate restriction on the account and asked for all opening documents.
Then she turned to me.
"There's one more thing.""
She placed a printed form in front of me.
It was an application for a business credit line.
My name appeared as the primary applicant.
Daniel was listed as an authorized representative.
The application date was eleven months earlier.
I stared at it.
"I've never seen this.""
Caroline examined the signature.
"Did you sign here?""
"No.""
She nodded.
"Then we need to report this as potential identity misuse.""
Richard stood.
"I want Daniel here.""
Caroline shook her head.
"Not yet. We need to preserve the records before anyone has an opportunity to alter them.""
My phone began ringing.
Daniel.
I let it ring.
He called again.
Then a message appeared.
We need to talk. Mom is making this into something it isn't.
Another message followed.
I know you've been talking to Dad's attorney. You need to stop before you make a mistake.
I showed Caroline.
She read it.
"Don't respond.""
But a third message arrived.
The account is not what you think. I can explain everything if you come home.
I stared at those words.
Then another message appeared.
Please, Emily. I don't want you getting hurt.
For a moment, my heart actually softened.
That was the worst part.
Even after everything, some part of me still wanted to believe he was the man who had once brought me soup when I had the flu.
The man who had held my hand during my father's funeral.
The man who had promised to build a family with me.
Then I remembered the forged signature.
I remembered Victoria's smile.
And I remembered the photograph of Sophie riding a pink bicycle outside a house Daniel had purchased behind my back.
I put my phone away.
Caroline noticed.
"You're doing the right thing.""
"I don't feel like it.""
"That's normal.""
She gathered the documents.
"I'll request the original account application and the electronic authentication records. If your husband submitted the application, the bank may have information about the device and email address used.""
Richard looked at her.
"How long?""
"Possibly several days.""
I nodded.
Several days felt like an eternity.
That afternoon, I returned to the apartment with Margaret.
Daniel's car was parked outside.
My stomach tightened.
"He knows I'm here," I whispered.
Margaret looked toward the entrance.
"Then we'll go in together.""
The front door was unlocked.
Daniel stood in the living room.
He had removed his tie and rolled up his sleeves.
On the coffee table were several sheets of paper.
When he saw me, he smiled.
Not a genuine smile.
A carefully practiced one.
"Emily. Thank God.""
I remained by the door.
"What are you doing here?""
"Our home.""
"You don't get to use that word as though nothing happened.""
He looked at Margaret.
"Can you give us a minute?""
"No.""
"Mom, please.""
Margaret crossed her arms.
"Say what you need to say.""
Daniel sighed.
Then he turned toward me.
"I know you're upset about Victoria.""
I stared at him.
"Victoria?""
"Yes. I know I handled things badly.""
"Badly?""
"I made mistakes.""
I looked at the papers on the coffee table.
"Is that what you call the account in my name?""
His expression changed.
He glanced at Margaret.
Then back at me.
"So you've seen it.""
"Why is my name on a business account?""
He walked toward me.
"Because it was easier.""
The words came out so casually that I almost didn't understand them.
"Easier?""
"Your credit history was clean. Mine wasn't ideal at the time.""
"Why?""
He hesitated.
"Business obligations.""
I shook my head.
"Did you use my identity to open it?""
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
He looked irritated.
"Emily, we were married. Everything was for our future.""
I laughed.
"Our future?""
"Yes.""
"Was Victoria part of our future?""
His jaw tightened.
"She has nothing to do with the account.""
"Then why did you transfer money to her?""
He went silent.
I stepped closer.
"How much money did you give her?""
"That's none of your business.""
I stared at him.
"One million two hundred thousand dollars passed through an account in my name. It is absolutely my business.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
Then he said something I never expected.
"You're making a mistake by trusting my father.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Careful, Daniel.""
He ignored her.
"Emily, Dad has been trying to push me out of the company for years. He'll use this situation to destroy me.""
I shook my head.
"Did you forge my signature?""
He looked directly at me.
Then he said:
"You're my wife. I thought you'd understand.""
That was the moment something finally broke.
Not my heart.
My loyalty.
I reached into my handbag and removed the business card Caroline had given me.
"I'm working with an attorney now.""
Daniel stared at it.
"You're serious?""
"Completely.""
He stepped closer.
"Emily, don't do this.""
I held his gaze.
"You already did it.""
Then his phone rang.
He checked the screen.
Victoria.
He declined the call.
It rang again.
He answered.
"What?""
I could hear her voice through the speaker.
"Daniel, the bank just called. They froze the account.""
His face drained of color.
Victoria continued.
"And there's something else. Someone has been asking questions about Sophie.""
Daniel looked at me.
Then he whispered:
"Who?""
May you like
Victoria's answer was loud enough for all of us to hear.
"Your daughter. Her biological father.""
