Chapter 3 - The Unraveling
Norah opened the door with trembling hands.
Two police officers stood on the porch, rain dripping from their dark uniforms.
“Norah Caldwell?” the older officer asked.
“Yes,” she answered, instinctively wrapping her arms around her stomach.
“We need to ask you some questions about your husband, Ethan Caldwell.”
Norah stepped back, motioning for them to come inside out of the rain.
“Has something happened to him?” she asked.
“We are investigating a massive fraud case involving his firm,” the second officer explained.
“A substantial amount of money was wired from his personal accounts into an offshore trust less than an hour ago.”
Norah stared at them in utter disbelief.
“I left him tonight,” she whispered.
“I have no idea what he is doing with his finances.”
The older officer pulled a folded document from his jacket.
“Mrs. Caldwell, the trust was opened under your name.”
The room spun wildly around her.
Ethan had not just destroyed their marriage.
He had framed her to protect himself from Marcus’s corporate coup.
“I didn't sign anything,” Norah said, her voice shaking violently.
“We will need you to come down to the station tomorrow to make a formal statement,” the officer warned.
They left her standing in the hallway, completely paralyzed by fear.
The stress of the night suddenly crashed down on her all at once.
A sharp, agonizing cramp ripped through her lower abdomen.
Norah gasped, grabbing the edge of the console table to keep from collapsing.
It was too early.
She was only 34 weeks pregnant.
Another wave of pain hit her, much stronger than the first.
She looked down and saw a dark pool of water spreading across the hardwood floor.
“Lily!” Norah screamed, her legs giving out.
Lily rushed out of the guest room, her eyes widening in sheer terror.
“Call an ambulance,” Norah sobbed, clutching her stomach.
Lily fumbled with her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed 911.
Norah closed her eyes, praying her baby would survive the nightmare Ethan had created.
May you like
Then, a shadow moved across the window.
Someone was watching them from the darkness of the yard.
