Chapter 3 - The Broken Frame
I threw off the heavy duvet and sprinted desperately down the dark hallway toward my mother's room.
I shoved the wooden door open, fully expecting to find that Vanessa had set another cruel trap.
My mother was sitting on the edge of her small bed, weeping silently into her trembling hands.
A silver picture frame lay completely shattered on the hardwood floor near her bare feet.
I rushed over, carefully avoiding the sharp shards of glass, and pulled her into a tight, comforting embrace.
"I am so sorry, I was just trying to look at the photo of your late father," she sobbed apologetically.
I gently rubbed her back, assuring her that a broken piece of glass was nothing to cry over.
But as I knelt down to clean up the mess, I noticed something incredibly strange about the backing of the frame.
The velvet backing had been entirely sliced open with a sharp blade, and a small electronic device was protruding from the gap.
I carefully pulled the device free, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.
It was a highly advanced, military-grade audio listening bug designed to transmit conversations over long distances.
Vanessa and Greg were not just plotting to steal my house; they were actively monitoring our most private conversations.
I immediately realized that if I had spoken a single word about my eight million dollars in this room, they would have known everything.
I quickly placed a finger to my lips, signaling my terrified mother to remain absolutely silent.
"Do not worry about the frame, Mom, I will buy you a beautiful new one tomorrow," I said loudly for the hidden microphone.
I gathered the broken glass and the bug, wrapping them tightly in a thick towel to muffle any further sound.
I walked back to the kitchen and dropped the bundled towel directly into the heavy garbage disposal.
The roaring sound of the disposal completely destroyed the listening device, ensuring our future conversations remained private.
The next morning, I woke up early and dressed in my oldest, most worn-out suit to perfectly play the part of a defeated man.
Vanessa was sipping expensive coffee in the kitchen, completely ignoring my mother who was nervously washing dishes.
"I am going to meet with the bankruptcy lawyers today to see what little we have left," I announced with a defeated sigh.
Vanessa offered a patronizing, fake smile of sympathy while her eyes danced with hidden excitement.
I walked out the front door and drove my rusted sedan directly to the most prestigious corporate law firm in the city.
I did not meet with a bankruptcy lawyer, but rather an elite asset protection attorney named Arthur.
I securely transferred my eight million dollars into an impenetrable, heavily encrypted offshore trust that Vanessa could never touch.
I also instructed Arthur to meticulously draft a set of divorce papers and a formal eviction notice.
Arthur warned me that dealing with a corrupt lawyer like Greg required undeniable, concrete proof of fraud.
I smiled confidently and pulled a duplicate flash drive from my pocket, containing all the security footage of their affair and plotting.
"This is absolutely perfect, we have everything we need to destroy them," Arthur said, reviewing the files.
May you like
I thanked him and drove back to my house, ready to face the highly anticipated dinner with my traitorous wife and her lover.
When I pulled into the driveway, I saw a strange, unmarked medical transport van parked directly in front of my porch.
