“The seat was never empty, Mark,” Anna said. Her voice was not loud, but in the acoustic perfection of the lobby, everyone heard it. “I have occupied it for five years.”
“You?” Mark scoffed. “You changed diapers. You planned dinners.”
“I managed the trust,” Anna said. “I approved the mergers. I vetoed the acquisitions. I wrote your speeches, Mark. I corrected your strategy memos while you were asleep. I let you play King because I didn’t want the spotlight. I wanted a husband. I wanted a father for my children.”
She looked at him with pity.
“But you started to believe the costume was real.”
CHAPTER 6: THE AUTOPSY OF A MARRIAGE
Chloe came running from the coffee shop, her heels clicking frantically. “Mark! What’s happening? Why is she here?”
Anna turned her gaze to Chloe. “Ah. The ‘Brand Upgrade’.”
Anna reached into the lap of her suit and pulled out a document. It was the divorce settlement.
“Yesterday,” Anna said, holding the paper up for the crowd to see, “Mark Miller forced me to sign this in a recovery room, hours after surgery. He threatened to take my children if I didn’t agree to his terms.”
A gasp rippled through the lobby.
“He insisted on a specific clause,” Anna continued. “‘Total separation of assets based on legal title.’ He believed this would secure his fortune.”
She handed the paper to Elias.
“Mark,” Anna said softly. “Did you ever check the deed to the penthouse?”
Mark went pale. “It’s… it’s our home.”
“It is owned by The Vance Family Irrevocable Trust. Of which I am the sole beneficiary.”
“The car?” Mark stammered.
“Leased by Vance Global Logistics. Of which I am the majority shareholder.”
“The… the company?”
“My father left 51% of the voting stock to me,” Anna said. “You have never owned a single share, Mark. You were an employee. A contract worker.”
She signaled to Jameson.
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