Chapter 8 - Sophia’s Last Message
Sophia did not disappear forever.
Only for forty-eight hours.
Long enough to terrify Liam.
Long enough to move money.
Long enough to send me an email.
It arrived at 4:12 a.m.
Subject:
Before Liam Changes the Story
I read it while feeding Hailey.
Emma,
You don’t know me, and I know you have no reason to believe anything I say. Liam will tell you I created the accounts. He will say I manipulated him. Some of that will even sound convincing.
The truth is simpler.
We both knew what we were doing.
My throat tightened.
She continued.
I became involved with Liam last year. I knew he was married. That is on me.
At least there were no excuses.
But the financial structure started before I met him.
I stopped reading.
Before Sophia.
Before the current affair.
Meaning Rachel’s records mattered even more.
Liam approached me because he needed someone inside Waverly’s partner bank who understood compliance procedures. He said he was protecting assets ahead of a divorce. Later I learned he was routing business payments through Northstar.
When I tried to step away, he reminded me that my approvals were already on the accounts.
Then came the sentence that made my stomach drop.
Your name was added because Liam believed nobody would investigate a stay-at-home mother.
I stared at Hailey.
My daughter blinked sleepily.
I kept reading.
I changed some records to remove you. Liam changed them back.
The ninety thousand dollars was transferred to a holding account. I did not take it for myself. Your attorney can obtain details if needed.
I am not asking forgiveness.
I am asking you not to believe him when he says you caused this.
Attached were twenty-seven files.
I sent everything to Danielle without finishing them.
Then I sat in the nursery until sunrise.
At nine, Liam’s attorney requested an emergency meeting.
At eleven, we sat across from each other in a conference room.
Liam looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Wrinkled shirt.
Dark circles beneath his eyes.
For one weak second, the wife in me recognized the man I had loved.
Then I remembered the email.
Danielle sat beside me.
Liam’s attorney, Mr. Kaplan, opened a folder.
“Our client would like to resolve the domestic portion of this matter promptly.”
Danielle smiled.
“That’s an interesting way of saying your client wants Emma to stop asking questions.”
Kaplan ignored her.
Liam looked at me.
“Emma.”
I said nothing.
“I know you got an email.”
My heartbeat jumped.
Danielle answered.
“Any communication received by my client will be handled appropriately.”
Liam leaned forward.
“Sophia is lying.”
Danielle glanced at me.
I stayed quiet.
“She stole money,” Liam continued.
“She created accounts.”
Still I said nothing.
“She used your information.”
Finally, I spoke.
“Why did she have it?”
His mouth closed.
I continued.
“How did Sophia know my Social Security number?”
“She had access to—”
“To what?”
He looked toward his attorney.
Kaplan interrupted.
“We are not here to discuss—”
“I asked my husband a question.”
Danielle murmured, “Let him answer.”
Liam’s jaw tightened.
“I gave it to her.”
The room became completely silent.
“Why?”
“I thought it was temporary.”
“Why?”
“I needed to open an account.”
“In my name.”
“Yes.”
“Without asking me.”
“Yes.”
“And your explanation is that Sophia did everything?”
He looked away.
“I made mistakes.”
“Stop calling decisions mistakes.”
His eyes returned to mine.
I surprised myself with how calm I felt.
“A mistake is putting salt instead of sugar into coffee.”
Danielle almost smiled.
“You filled out forms.”
“You signed things.”
“You moved money.”
“You gave another woman my private information.”
“And then you planned to leave me carrying the consequences.”
“I never planned that.”
I reached into my folder and pulled out the printed email.
Emma becomes the obvious explanation.
I placed it in front of him.
Liam’s eyes widened.
“You weren’t supposed to have that.”
Danielle said softly, “That’s not a denial.”
Kaplan closed his eyes.
Liam realized too late what he had said.
I stood.
“I’m done.”
“Emma, wait.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand what happens if this becomes public.”
I looked down at him.
“I’m beginning to.”
“I could lose everything.”
There it was again.
I.
Not we.
Not Hailey.
Not our family.
I picked up my bag.
“You should have thought about that before you put my name on it.”
He stood.
“Please.”
I turned toward the door.
Then he said something that stopped me.
“I didn’t start Northstar.”
I looked back.
“What?”
Liam swallowed.
“Your father did.”
For one second, nobody moved.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was absurd.
“My father hated complicated investments.”
“He knew exactly what Northstar was.”
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Liam reached into his briefcase.
Kaplan grabbed his arm.
“Liam.”
He ignored him.
He pulled out a document and slid it toward me.
The date was two years before my wedding.
The signature at the bottom was unmistakable.
My father’s.
And beside his name was another.
May you like
Liam Reynolds.
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