I looked at Vivian, then back at Marcus. He was no longer holding the little black box. It lay open beside his champagne glass, the engagement ring still inside. The blonde woman looked confused and frightened. “What’s happening?” she asked him. Marcus didn’t answer. One of the officers stepped beside his chair and quietly instructed him to remain seated. Vivian placed the folder in front of me and opened it carefully. Inside were several printed documents, photographs, and copies of financial records. My name appeared on the first page, followed by the name of a company I had never heard of. “Mrs. Hayes, I represent the legal department handling an investigation involving your husband,” Vivian explained. “Your name has appeared in several financial transactions that require your immediate attention.” I felt my throat tighten. “What kind of transactions?” I asked. Vivian looked directly at me. “Your husband has been using your personal information without your knowledge.” I stared at her, unable to process the words. Marcus finally spoke. “Natalie, don’t listen to her. This is a misunderstanding.” But his voice sounded nothing like the confident man I had married.

Vivian turned another page toward me. It showed bank transfers, signatures, and a list of accounts. Some of the amounts were larger than anything I had ever seen in our household finances. “These transactions were made over several months,” she continued. “Several documents also contain signatures that appear to have been copied from your personal records.” I looked at the papers more closely. The signature was supposed to be mine, but I had never signed those documents. I remembered Marcus asking me for copies of my identification months earlier, claiming the bank needed updated information for our mortgage. At the time, I hadn’t questioned him. We were married. I trusted him completely. Now I understood why Elliot had told me the kiss wasn’t the worst thing Marcus had done. The woman in the booth suddenly stood up, holding her stomach. “Marcus, you told me everything was taken care of,” she whispered. He turned toward her angrily. “Sit down. Don’t say another word.” Vivian calmly closed the folder. “I think it’s time everyone understood exactly what has been happening.”