Chapter 10 - The Husband Who Wanted Half
Theodore hired a divorce attorney before noon.
His position was simple.
Claire’s wealth had increased during their marriage.
Therefore, he believed he deserved half.
Naomi almost smiled when she read the claim.
Northstar had been established before the marriage.
Its core patents were premarital property.
The mansion belonged to a separate holding company.
Bennett Construction had received funds structured as secured loans, not marital gifts.
Theodore had signed acknowledgments every year.
He had never read them.
His attorney attempted another approach.
He argued that Theodore contributed to Claire’s success by providing social connections and business opportunities.
Claire’s records showed the opposite.
Northstar had been profitable before Claire met him.
Bennett Construction had survived because of Northstar.
Then Theodore claimed Claire had concealed assets.
Naomi produced annual disclosures delivered to his email and signed electronically.
Theodore had approved them without opening the attachments.
Margaret encouraged him to fight.
“She will settle to avoid scandal.”
But the scandal was already public.
A guest’s video of the slap had reached social media.
The short clip showed Theodore striking Claire while Margaret smiled in the background.
Bennett Construction clients began canceling meetings.
Employees demanded answers.
Claire issued one statement.
No insults.
No revenge.
She confirmed that Theodore had been removed from executive authority pending an independent investigation and that employee wages and benefits were protected.
The calm statement made Theodore look even worse.
He called Claire repeatedly.
She did not answer.
Then he sent a message.
We can fix this if you stop embarrassing my mother.
Claire read it twice.
Not I’m sorry.
Not Are you okay?
His concern was still Margaret.
Claire forwarded the message to Naomi.
Meanwhile, accountants uncovered years of unauthorized personal spending.
Margaret’s jewelry.
Private vacations.
Club memberships.
Luxury vehicle leases.
Theodore had classified all of them as business development expenses.
The total exceeded $2.7 million.
When regulators requested records, Victor offered to cooperate.
In exchange, he revealed that Margaret maintained a hidden storage room inside the mansion.
Claire stared at the floor plan.
“There is no storage room.”
Victor pointed to the wall behind Margaret’s bedroom closet.
May you like
“There is now.”
👉 Behind the hidden wall were the records Margaret believed could force Claire to surrender the mansion and the company.
