Chapter 4

The 15th of next month. Wednesday.

At 8:00 AM, David took a call right before heading out.

"Yeah, got it. I'll be there by ten. Let's talk in person."

He hung up and adjusted his tie in front of the mirror.

"I’m traveling today," he said. "Three or four days. I’ll bring you back something."

I was clearing the dining table. I didn't look up.

"Have a safe trip."

He walked to the door, then turned around.

"Don't worry about the fridge. We'll handle it when I get back."

The door closed.

I put down the sponge, walked to the window, and watched his car drive away.

I went back to the bedroom and changed my clothes.

I didn't wear the black dress. Instead, I put on a simple gray coat and black pants.

Then, I called Martha.

"Martha, are you free today?"

"David is away on business. I have to go to the bank to handle some paperwork, can you come with me? We can go shopping afterward."

Martha hesitated on the other end of the line.

"The bank? For what?"

"A family wealth management plan. They say the returns are high, but it requires signatures from both sides of the family."

"David’s out of town, so he asked me to look into it first. I don't really understand these things, can you help me check it out?"

Martha’s tone immediately softened. "Sure, what time?"

"10:30 AM. Meet me at the bank entrance."

At 9:50 AM, I arrived at the bank.

Ashley was waiting for me at the entrance of the VIP room. Seeing me alone, she looked surprised.

"Where’s Martha?"

"She’ll be here at 10:30. What about him?"

Ashley lowered her voice. "He’s here. Arrived at 9:30. I put him in the adjacent VIP room. The girl didn't show up."

"She doesn't need to."

I walked into the VIP room and sat in the chair by the window.

Through the glass partition, I could clearly see the main lobby outside.

At 10:20 AM, Martha arrived.

She was wearing a bright red coat, her hair freshly permed, looking around the lobby.

I stood up and waved at her.

She saw me and walked over.

"Why are you so early?"

"Just finished some paperwork." I guided her to the sofa.

"Martha, take a seat. The wealth manager will be here shortly to explain the plan to us."

Martha looked around the VIP room, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

"This is nice. A private room, huh? I’ve never been in one of these."

"Yes, only premium clients get access."

Martha nodded and began to nag again.

"The contractors are already waiting on Justin's house. They just need the cash."

"If you can figure out this wealth management stuff and make a quick profit, then..."

She stopped mid-sentence.

The door to the VIP room was pushed open.

David stood at the doorway.

He looked at me, then at his mother, his expression switching through various shades of panic.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer.

A bank teller behind him said politely:

"Mr. Cooper, right this way, please. Your reserved VIP room is next door."

David didn't move.

He stared at me, his eyes filled with panic and suspicion.

"Vivian, what are you doing here?"

Martha chimed in:

"She's here to look into a family wealth plan. It requires signatures from both sides."

"Aren't you supposed to be on a business trip? Why are you here?"

David’s face drained of color.

He opened his mouth to speak, but right then, Ashley walked in holding a stack of documents.

She smiled and nodded at me, then turned to David.

"Vivian, Mr. Cooper, since you’re both here, let’s just handle this together. It’ll save you another trip."

She placed the documents on the table.

Right on top was a bank statement.

Under David's name.

Packed with transaction records.

Ashley sat down, flipped open the statement, and circled a few lines with her pen.

"Mr. Cooper, let’s review your transaction history first. We need this for our standard risk assessment."

She pointed to the first item.

"This transaction, last Wednesday, at a luxury hotel, $698. Was this authorized by you?"

David’s throat tightened.

"Yes."

"Great." Ashley pointed to the next one.

"This one, the 18th of last month, a jewelry store, $8,800. Was this also you?"

Beads of sweat began to form on David’s forehead.

Martha looked completely confused and leaned in to get a closer look.

"What charges? David, what did you buy?"

Ashley didn't stop. She pointed to the next one.

"This one, from the 15th to the 18th of last month. Flights to Miami and hotel bookings, totaling $6,800."

"Two passengers. Was the other passenger a family member?"

David’s face turned paper-white.

His mouth hung open, but no sound came out.

Ashley raised her head, looking perfectly "surprised."

"According to our system records, your primary salary account doesn't seem to support such frequent high-end spending."

"Can you explain the source of these funds? We need this for risk compliance."

The VIP room fell dead silent for three seconds.

Then, I spoke.

I picked up the statement and looked at the numbers.

"David, didn't you say the project bonus was canceled?"

"What did you buy for $8,800? And this $698 hotel stay... was that on Wednesday when you were supposed to be playing tennis?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear.

Martha finally put the pieces together. She snatched the statement from the table.

She squinted at the paper for a moment, then looked up at David.

"David, who is this woman?"

David's lips trembled. "Mom, it’s not what you think..."

"I asked you who this woman is!"

Martha’s voice shrieked, drawing stares from people in the main lobby.

Through the glass wall of the adjacent VIP room, a few neighbors who were waiting in line craned their necks to see what was happening.

David stood there, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

He looked at me, then at his mother, and then at the growing crowd outside the glass door.

His lips parted, but he couldn't find his voice.

I took the statement back from his mother's hand, turned to the next page, and looked at the numbers.

I read them out in a clear voice, loud enough for the neighbors outside to hear.

"Last Wednesday, luxury hotel, $698."

"The Wednesday before that, same hotel, $698."

"The 18th of last month, jewelry store, $8,800."

"The 15th of last month, two tickets to Miami..."

David finally found his voice.

"That's enough!"

He lunged forward to grab the paper, but his mother grabbed his arm.

"What do you think you’re doing!" Martha glared at him. "Let her finish!"

I kept reading.

"Last Saturday, high-end restaurant, $488. Last Saturday, luxury hotel, $698..."

The neighbors outside the glass partition began whispering to each other.

"Isn't that our neighbor, David Cooper?"

"Is that his wife? Did he cheat?"

"Look at those statements. All those hotels. It’s pretty obvious."

David was completely paralyzed.

He stood there like a statue, all expression wiped from his face.

I finished reading the last line and put the paper down.

I looked up at him.