Chapter 30
[Addison]
I spent the next hour going over the details of the crime Michael committed against me, our marriage, and my trust in him as my husband and protector. While I was at home watching our son, keeping our household and our business running, he was robbing me blind.
How could I be so stupid? Was I so blinded by love that I didn’t realize how he was taking from me?
Thinking back, how many times did he have me sign documents without me reading them? How often did I give my power away to him without thinking of the consequences?
After watching Mr. Craig produce dozens of documents, each one gifting Michael with amounts ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, I made a promise to myself. –never again will I let myself be so easily fooled.
The next time I fall in love, I won’t do so blindly. I’ll make sure I have both eyes open.
“Why didn’t anyone inform me of these withdrawals?” I demand, fighting to keep my anger in check as I tally the amounts in my mind. “This shouldn’t have been possible.”
In response, Mr. Craig pulls one last document out of his desk. It is dated 4 years ago, only one year into our marriage. It is a typed letter, from me, stating that all of my family’s assets, including all “bonds, shares, and properties,” be transferred to the care of “Stone and Associates,” to be managed by “Mr. Michael Stone,” on behalf of his wife.
Not only is it signed, it is notarized, fingerprinted, and sealed with an official court seal.
“I never sent this,” I frown, looking down at my signature. As his assistant, I signed a dozen documents a day, but I would have remembered something like this. “How much was taken?”
“Over 500 million dollars,” he reaches his hand across the table in a grandfatherly way, “I am so sorry Miss Vandersteele.”
Those words are still ringing in my ears as I walk out of the building. My head down, I can barely feel my feet touch the ground. How much is Michael going to take from me for him to be satisfied?
My body hits a solid wall of warmth. I recognize the scent of his aftershave as Hunter wraps his arms around me. I don’t bother asking how he knew where to find me, or why he’s waiting with his arms open.
Letting everything go, I weep.
“You just found out about the trust,” a touch of regret edges his voice. “I was hoping my resources could have returned it to you before now but…” he pauses as my body stiffens beneath his touch.
“You knew,” my anger rises as I push myself off of his chest. “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”
“I’ve known from the beginning,” he confesses, his face drawn with worry and regret.
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Taking a seat next to me on the stone steps, he pulls out a crisp file.
+25 Bonus
Opening the file, I find a complete dossier on me, or at least the version of me as Addison Archer. Behind that are documents
about Michael, and Evelyn Valentine, along with a few of the files from Mr. Craig’s office.
“I was going to tell you today over lunch,” he explains. “I’ve been waiting for the right time, but now,” he frowns, “I realize there
never is going to be one.”
That’s why he looked so concerned this morning. He knew, and he was trying to find the right way to tell me, knowing how it
would crush my spirit.
“Is this why you offered me so much money?” I demanded, stunned at the depth of information he had gathered about me before making his official offer. “Is this why you kept insisting I take your money?”
“No,” Hunter promises, taking my hands in his and holding them to his chest. “I keep offering you a position at my side, an
official position with all the perks and benefits of being a part of Grant Group, not because I feel pity for you,” his dark blue eyes
shine as he adds. “but because I value you. You deserve this and so much more.‘
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My cheeks flush with his sudden praise and I find myself speechless. Hunter had still been a stranger to me then—I was just some
woman who happened to be at the right place at the right time, and rescued a little girl, not expecting to get anything in return.
I didn’t realize that at that moment, I wasn’t just saving her life—I was protecting my future as well.
“Come,” Hunter pulls me by the hand. “It’s getting late, and you haven’t eaten.”
Letting him guide me to the waiting car, I collapse into the warm leather seats as we drive across the city towards Central Park.
When the car stops in front of a grand restaurant, one of the finest and most famous in New York City, I gasp.
“I thought they closed this place,” stepping forward, I marvel at the beautiful dance of waitstaff moving between the tables,
decorating each with large vases of roses swimming in pools with tealights. “What is all this?”
“A celebration,” Hunter announces, “For your new job, or the job you’ll get eventually, once the right firm gets smart enough to
take you.”
“There won’t be a new job,” I fight not to collapse again as I tell him about how Michael blacklisted me, threatening anyone who
dares hire me with closing their business. “He hates me, Hunter.”
“No,” Hunter shakes his head. “He thinks he owns you.”
Hunter guides me towards the doors and my steps slow as I realize how much time, energy, and effort this must have taken for
him to arrange.
Nobody has ever shown me such comfort before. “Can I ask you a question?” Hunter pauses as a host opens the door from the other side. “Why didn’t you do anything to interfere with my job search? You could have forced me to take your position?”
Hunter’s expression falls, his eyes showing a touch of hurt before looking away. “Because I don’t own you, Addison, and I never
want to. If I did anything,” he shakes his head, “It would have been the opposite. I’d have given my approval to any firm that
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would take you, guaranteeing you a top spot.”
My breath catches.
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“But I wouldn’t do that to you either,” Hunter promises. “Ever. You deserve to take pride in your efforts. I’d never take that away
from you.
Without realizing I had moved, my body collapses against him again as I cry once more for my dead parents and grandparents, all
gone, the last of their legacy funneled into the hands of the same woman who destroyed my life.
And he holds me patiently as we wait just outside the door to one of the most beautiful places anyone has ever taken me.
“He took everything from me, Hunter. I have nothing
Pulling me into his chest again, I weep against his comforting strength as he smoothes my hair. “That isn’t true. You have me,
you have Livy. We’re your family now Addison Archer.”
Looking up, I see an anger burning in his gaze and I know he means it. Hunter intends to stand by me.
“Okay,” I nod, finally ready to accept him and his terms, as I wipe my eyes and we enter the restaurant together.
Hunter’s eyes glow with approval as he asks. “Where would you like to begin?”
“My freedom,” I decide. “I need my divorce finalized, now. And then,” taking my seat at the table I declare, “I’ll make him regret
ever crossing me.”
