Chapter 4

The police arrived within fifteen minutes.

Two officers walked in, taking in the hostile tension radiating across the living room.

"Who called 911? What's going on here?"

I stepped forward, pointing toward the looted safe.

"I called, Officer. The gold bullion, cash, and high-end jewelry stored in my safe have been entirely cleaned out. The total value exceeds two million dollars."

Martha rushed forward immediately, putting on a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Oh, Officers, it's a misunderstanding! Just a total misunderstanding!"

"It's just a little domestic dispute between husband and wife, nobody stole anything!"

Michael jumped in hastily.

"Yes, exactly. I'm her husband. I took some household funds to make an investment. She didn't know the details, so she's just upset."

The younger officer turned to me with a sympathetic sigh.

"Ma'am, if this is a dispute regarding marital property division, you'll need to resolve it through family court. We can't file this as criminal theft."

Hearing that, Michael visibly exhaled in relief.

I had anticipated this. I calmly pulled a thick stack of notarized documents from my briefcase and handed them to the senior officer.

"Officers, this is not community property."

"This house was purchased solely under my name prior to our marriage, paid in full. His name is nowhere near the deed."

"The gold bars and jewelry in that safe were gifted to me by my parents prior to our marriage. Here are the purchase receipts, original certificates, and official deeds of gift."

"Michael broke into my personal safe without my consent, stole my premarital assets, and liquidated them."

"Under state law, how does this not constitute grand larceny?"

The officers reviewed the airtight documentation, their expressions turning dead serious.

"Mr. Hayes, the evidence provided shows these assets are strictly Ms. Hayes's separate, premarital property."

"Given that the amount exceeds two million dollars, this is classified as first-degree grand larceny. Sir, you're going to have to come with us."

Michael completely lost his cool.

He clearly never imagined I would keep every single piece of paperwork so meticulously organized.

"Abby! Babe! Please, stop this!"

He lunged forward to grab my hand, but I yanked it away with disgust.

"I am not playing games. You stole my premarital inheritance just to buy Amanda a house. You think this is a joke?"

Martha panicked entirely. She dropped straight onto the floor, throwing a hysterical tantrum.

"Officers, you can't arrest my son! A husband using his wife's things isn't stealing!"

"This evil, heartless woman is framing my baby boy!"

The senior officer snapped, his tone sharp.

"Ma'am, stop obstructing an arrest, or we will take you in for obstruction of justice!"

Martha instantly clamped her mouth shut, terrified.

Amanda shrank into the corner, holding her breath, not daring to utter a peep.

As the officer cuffed Michael's wrists, the cold metal finally brought the harsh reality crashing down on him.

"Abby, I was wrong! I'll get the money back! I'll return every single penny, okay?!"

"Please, don't let me go to prison! I can't have a felony on my record!"

Looking at his pathetic, sniveling face, I felt nothing but revulsion.

I pulled out the uncontested divorce agreement I had my lawyer draft earlier and tossed it directly at his feet.

"You want to stay out of a jumpsuit? Fine."

"Sign this. You surrender every claim to any shared assets, and you sign over full physical and legal custody of Chloe."