Derek controlled the household account, but he had never understood my finances. Before meeting him, I had spent twelve years building a medical-software company with my college roommate. When we sold controlling interest, I kept enough equity to become independently wealthy.
Derek knew I had money.
He didn’t know how much.
Worse for him, he had assumed marriage would give him access to it.
That assumption had made him careless.
Three months earlier, I discovered he had secretly attempted to use documents from our wedding planning folder to open a line of credit using my assets as collateral.
His mother had been involved.
Emails between them were almost comically arrogant.
Once you’re married, she won’t fight you.
Make sure she signs before the honeymoon.
After Europe, we can deal with the house.
The “house” was mine.
So was the investment account Derek had already promised Patricia would finance her retirement.
