Chapter 4

Across town, the harbor apartment offered a view of docked sailboats bobbing gently against the gray slate waters of the Atlantic. Clara stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a ceramic mug of green tea. The morning news was playing softly on the wall-mounted television, featuring a brief financial segment about an unexpected federal audit targeting Sterling Enterprises. The reporter mentioned irregularities in philanthropic funding allocation, hinting at deeper investigations to come.

Marcus sat at the dining table, surrounded by legal briefs and financial statements printed out from secure servers. He was Clara’s cousin and a senior partner at a prominent Boston litigation firm specializing in corporate fraud and asset recovery. He looked up, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses.

"The federal investigators are moving faster than anticipated," Marcus said, tapping a stylus against his tablet. "Once the district attorney’s office received the packet with your signature, they realized the scope of the embezzlement went far beyond simple tax discrepancies. Julian’s been moving foundation assets into personal accounts since the year you were married."

"I know," Clara said quietly, not turning away from the window. "I suspected it after my father passed away, but I didn't have the proof. Julian was very careful to keep me away from the operational books. He always insisted that family finances were his burden to bear alone."

"A classic control tactic," Marcus murmured. "And he used your inheritance to bail out his failing investments, thinking you’d never look twice as long as the lifestyle remained intact."

"He underestimated me," Clara said, turning around to face him. "He thought because I chose to stay home with Leo and Maya that I had lost my professional edge. He forgot that I managed my father’s portfolio before we met."

"Well, his oversight is about to cost him everything," Marcus replied. "The freezing orders on his personal and corporate assets are airtight. He won't be able to liquidate anything without triggering an immediate felony warrant. But we need to make sure the children’s custody arrangements are locked down before his legal team tries any emergency maneuvers."

"I've already filed for sole custody," Clara stated, her voice firm and resolute. "The affidavits detailing his financial malfeasance and the unstable environment at the Beacon Hill estate—including Beatrice’s erratic behavior—provide more than enough grounds."

Marcus nodded approvingly. "Good. Stay here. Don’t answer his calls, and don’t let him into the building. Security has been briefed, and management has my direct line."

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Clara took a sip of her tea, looking toward the hallway where soft murmurs indicated the twins were waking up. "He’ll try to contact me soon, Marcus. He always uses charm when cornered."

"Let him try," Marcus said. "The law doesn't care about charm anymore."