Chapter 6 - Blood and Water
“A few cupcakes, Evelyn?” I said, keeping my voice cold and lethal.
“Yes! You humiliated your husband in front of his peers, you humiliated Vanessa, and you ruined my grandson’s afternoon! Ben told me you kicked him out of his own car! You need to drive over to Vanessa’s house right now, apologize to Dr. Sterling over the phone, and fix this before Jonah’s acceptance is permanently revoked!”
I looked over at Lily, who was finishing her grilled cheese, oblivious to the venom coming through the speaker. I picked up the phone, took it off speaker, and walked into the pantry, shutting the door behind me.
“Evelyn, listen to me very carefully,” I whispered, each word razor-sharp. “Ben stole forty-five thousand dollars from our joint account. He used my dead father’s money to pay Jonah’s tuition and lease Vanessa a car, while signing a legal paper denying his own daughter food at her birthday.”
There was a split-second pause on the other end, but Evelyn didn't falter.
“Well... Ben is the man of the house, Claire! That money is marital property! And Jonah has a once-in-a-lifetime gift. Lily is a sweet girl, but she’s just an average student. She doesn't need an elite fund right now. Vanessa needed that money to secure Jonah’s future, and as a family, we support each other! You are being completely selfish!”
“Selfish?” I let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Thank you, Evelyn. You’ve just made every decision I have to make next remarkably easy.”
“Don't you take that tone with me, young lady! If you don't bring Ben home tonight, I will have him file for full custody of Lily! You’re emotionally unstable, and I will make sure the court knows it!”
“Tell Ben to retain an attorney,” I said. “He’s going to need one by tomorrow morning.”
I hung up the phone and immediately blocked Evelyn’s number. Then I blocked Vanessa.
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Next, I dialed a number I had hoped I would never have to use: Sarah Vance, my college roommate and one of the most ruthless forensic divorce attorneys in the state.
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