Chapter 8 - the woman in Palm Beach made the whole story make sense
The final confirmation did not come from a bank statement or a security camera. It came from a divorce attorney in Palm Beach who mistakenly returned a call meant for someone else.
Catherine’s governance attorney, Alan Pierce, had traced the shell LLC receiving the questionable transfers. It was connected to a small apartment lease in Palm Beach and to a personal-assistant service that had booked repeated travel for a man named Julian Mercer.
The name meant nothing to Catherine.
It meant everything to Alan after a second search.
Julian Mercer was a former luxury-brand consultant who had once worked an event for Serena two years earlier. He now appeared repeatedly in itineraries, private dinners, and resort charges that had been disguised as client-entertainment expenses.
Catherine listened in cold silence as Alan explained.
“From what I can tell, Serena has been financing a separate relationship.”
“Using company money?”
“In part. Possibly also household accounts reimbursed through company channels.”
Catherine closed her eyes briefly.
Michael, for all his weaknesses, had been faithful. Serena’s betrayal would wound him deeply, but infidelity alone would not have driven Catherine into a hospital bed. Fraud plus infidelity plus attempted chemical harm—that was a different order of family disaster.
Then Alan added one more thing.
“There was also a draft consultation note from a Palm Beach divorce attorney under Serena’s personal email.”
“For divorce?”
“Not exactly. The note appears to discuss what documentation might strengthen a future claim that Michael had been financially reckless or mentally unstable.”
Catherine sat up straighter.
That meant Serena was not merely stealing and cheating. She was preparing for a strategic exit in which Michael might be framed as the unreliable party while she negotiated a richer settlement.
The pieces locked together.
If Catherine exposed the finances, Serena’s plan collapsed.
If Michael learned about Julian Mercer, Serena’s plan collapsed.
If Catherine’s unexplained sedation became a police matter, Serena’s life might collapse.
No wonder Serena had gone from defensive to dangerous.
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She had too much to lose and too little character to lose it honestly.
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