Chapter 3 - The Lies That Built an Empire
Jill walked out of the county courthouse into the bright afternoon sun, the certified marriage record tucked safely inside her purse alongside her envelope of savings.
Her mind raced back over fifteen years of marriage. She had married Richard when they were twenty-five. They had built everything from scratch. When Richard lost his first business eight years ago, Jill had taken a second job as a overnight baker to pay off his ninety-thousand-dollar debt.
She had worn five-dollar shoes and skipped doctors' appointments so Richard could wear tailored suits for his corporate promotions.
Yet, three years ago, Richard had legally married Lacey in a neighboring county without ever divorcing Jill.
How had he managed it? How had he kept two legal marriages active in the same state without being caught by the tax authorities or insurance companies?
Jill got into her old sedan and turned on the engine. She pulled out her phone and checked her shared family banking app. There was less than four hundred dollars in their joint account.
Every dollar Richard earned at his high-paying executive job was being funneled somewhere else.
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She put the car in drive and headed toward Richard’s corporate office downtown. She needed to see the truth with her own eyes before taking her next move.
👉 What horrifying confrontation was waiting for Jill when she arrived at Richard's office building?
