PART 2
Derek stared at the empty apartment as if the walls had betrayed him. Suzanne stopped laughing when she saw the police report beside the ring.
“What did she do?” she whispered.
Derek snatched up the paper, reading enough to understand that Skylar had documented the burn, named him, and requested protection. His face darkened.
“She’s bluffing.”
But the apartment answered with silence. The television was gone. The photographs were gone. Even the spare car key had vanished.
Suzanne opened the cabinets. “Where’s the coffee machine?”
Derek turned on her. “Forget the coffee machine.”
His phone rang. The caller was his insurance company’s regional director.
“Derek,” the man said coldly, “we received notice of a criminal complaint involving domestic violence. Until this is reviewed, you’re suspended.”
Derek’s confidence cracked.
“What? That’s private.”
“Not when your position requires a clean conduct record.”
The call ended.
Suzanne stepped backward. “You said she’d never report you.”
Before Derek could answer, another notification appeared. Their joint account had been frozen pending investigation. Then the building manager called, informing him that Skylar, the sole legal owner, had revoked his access and filed notice that he must leave within seventy-two hours.
Derek hurled the phone across the room.
Meanwhile, Skylar sat in a quiet hotel room overlooking Biscayne Bay, her cheek bandaged, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. The social worker had arranged temporary protection, but Skylar had arranged something else.
She opened her laptop and sent the report, photographs, and years of threatening messages to an attorney.
Then she logged into a hidden financial account Derek had never known existed.
For three years, Skylar had quietly documented every transfer he pressured her to make to Suzanne. The total was staggering: $86,400.
Her attorney called minutes later.
“We can pursue restitution, exclusive possession of the apartment, and a restraining order,” he said. “But there’s something bigger. One transfer went to a company registered under Derek’s name.”
Skylar frowned. “Derek doesn’t own a company.”
“According to state records, he does.”
The attorney paused.
“And Suzanne isn’t listed as his sister.”
Skylar’s breath caught.
“She’s listed as his wife.”
read the entire Part 3 below.
