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. \u201cWhat\u2019s happening?\u201d she asked him. Marcus didn\u2019t 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. \u201cMrs. Hayes, I represent the legal department handling an investigation involving your husband,\u201d Vivian explained. \u201cYour name has appeared in several financial transactions that require your immediate attention.\u201d I felt my throat tighten. \u201cWhat kind of transactions?\u201d I asked. Vivian looked directly at me. \u201cYour husband has been using your personal information without your knowledge.\u201d I stared at her, unable to process the words. Marcus finally spoke. \u201cNatalie, don\u2019t listen to her. This is a misunderstanding.\u201d But his voice sounded nothing like the confident man I had married.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cThese transactions were made over several months,\u201d she continued. \u201cSeveral documents also contain signatures that appear to have been copied from your personal records.\u201d 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\u2019t questioned him. We were married. I trusted him completely. Now I understood why Elliot had told me the kiss wasn\u2019t the worst thing Marcus had done. The woman in the booth suddenly stood up, holding her stomach. \u201cMarcus, you told me everything was taken care of,\u201d she whispered. He turned toward her angrily. \u201cSit down. Don\u2019t say another word.\u201d Vivian calmly closed the folder. \u201cI think it\u2019s time everyone understood exactly what has been happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n THE STORY CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE… \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\n <\/p>\n