## Part 3

“Technically, ownership records aren’t straightforward. But the registered agent is.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“Natalie.”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

Nora continued.

“The mailing address is a condo complex in Raleigh. Natalie Brooks owns a unit there.”

“How much did Ryan transfer?”

“From the screenshots you sent me, $6,865.”

I almost laughed.

Such an ordinary number.

That was the strange part of betrayal.

You expected thunder.

Sometimes all you got was $6,865.

“I contributed more than half the money in that account.”

“I know.”

“What can I do?”

“Financially? You have options. But today I’m more interested in keeping you from signing anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“You sent me the prenuptial agreement.”

I’d nearly forgotten it.

Ryan’s attorney had sent

a final revision three days earlier.

Ryan called it routine.

Protection for us both.

Nora had offered to review it, but wedding preparations had kept me too busy.

“I looked at it this morning,” she said.

“And?”

“There’s a clause relating to property acquired during the marriage through jointly funded entities.”

I frowned.

“In English.”

“If you signed this agreement and Ryan later moved certain funds through a company that became marital property, sorting out who owned what could get very expensive.”

A chill passed through me.

“You think Briar North is connected?”

“I think you should assume nothing is accidental until you know otherwise.”

I climbed out of bed.

For the first time, heartbreak wasn’t my strongest emotion.

Anger was.

Not explosive anger.

Productive anger.

I showered.

Dressed in black slacks and a cream blouse.

Then drove to Aunt Linda’s home.

She lived twenty-five minutes from the estate in