Chapter 9 - Natalie’s Apartment
Natalie met investigators inside the condominium Arthur bought her.
The apartment overlooked the Mississippi River.
Every piece of furniture had been purchased through my account.
Natalie looked exhausted.
She did not apologize immediately.
She began with the truth.
Arthur told her our marriage was already over.
He said I refused to release company funds because I wanted to punish his mother.
Natalie helped him prepare public statements portraying me as unstable.
She knew the language was exaggerated.
She did not know the medical petition was fabricated.
At least, that was her claim.
Then she opened a wall safe.
Inside were passports.
Cash.
A second gold card.
And documents creating a new company in Switzerland.
Arthur planned to transfer six million dollars after gaining control of my trust.
He and Natalie would leave the United States.
Victoria would remain behind.
Natalie believed she was going with him.
But one document listed a different beneficiary.
A woman named Rebecca Shaw.
Arthur had another relationship.
Natalie laughed when she saw the name.
Not because it was funny.
Because humiliation had finally reached her too.
“I destroyed another woman’s marriage for a man who was preparing to replace me.”
I said nothing.
She looked at Sophie.
“I’m sorry.”
“You helped him call me an unfit mother.”
“I know.”
“You attended her birthday.”
“I know.”
“You watched him lie.”
“Yes.”
Her cooperation did not erase that.
But it exposed Arthur’s final plan.
He intended to blame every fraudulent transaction on Victoria.
Mercer would produce documents showing she acted independently.
Arthur would testify that he signed papers under emotional pressure.
Then he would leave with the money.
Victoria believed she was protecting her son.
Arthur saw her as a shield.
When investigators confronted Victoria with the escape documents, she refused to believe them.
“He would never leave me.”
They showed her the beneficiary page.
Rebecca Shaw.
Victoria stared at it for a long time.
Then she asked for a deal.
For the first time, she offered evidence against Arthur.
May you like
Not because she regretted harming me.
Because she realized her son planned to harm her.
