Chapter 3 - Unraveling the Financial Web**
Rowan stumbled backward until the back of his knees hit the living room wall, his chest heaving as he stared at the financial printouts scattered across the table. The arrogant, condescending mask he usually wore around the house had completely shattered, replaced by the pathetic, sweating panic of a cornered criminal. “Phoebe... where did you get those?” Rowan choked out, pointing a trembling finger at the documents while casting terrified glances toward my father, who continued to cradle baby Leo with serene, unshakeable calm. “I’m a forensic accountant, Rowan,” I said, my voice cutting through the silent room like a razor-sharp blade. “Did you honestly think you could treat our joint accounts like your mother’s personal retirement fund without me noticing? Did you think that while I was pregnant, exhausted, and trusting you, I wouldn't audit the cash flow of the consulting firm you supposedly invested in?” Rowan swallowed hard, his throat dry, trying desperately to salvage a lie. “It’s... it’s a legitimate business venture! Mom needed bridge financing for her real estate portfolio! It’s just temporary—it’s family business!” “Family business?” Dad repeated coldly, his deep voice rumbling with quiet fury. “You abandoned my daughter in a hospital delivery room while she suffered through fourteen hours of labor so you could buy your mother an expensive luxury watch and fund her illegal property speculation schemes with stolen marital assets. You call that family business? I call it grand larceny and financial fraud.” Rowan’s eyes darted frantically back to me, attempting to deploy the charming, manipulative apologies he had weaponized for years whenever he got caught in a lie. “Phoebe, please, let’s not blow this out of proportion. We can talk about this like adults. Put the laptop away. Let’s sit down and discuss how we can restructure the accounts together—just you and me, without involving your... your father.” I stood up slowly from my chair, looking down at the man who had abandoned his wife and newborn child without a single ounce of remorse. “The only person you’ll be discussing anything with from now on, Rowan, is my father’s corporate legal team and the federal prosecutor’s office,” I replied smoothly. At that exact moment, the front doorbell chimed twice, echoing sharply through the quiet house.
