After His Mistress Framed Me, My Husband Lost Everything novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Audit

Deanna's POV

Joanna smelled of the vanilla soap she had used since we were eighteen.

"Hi, sweet pea," she said quietly, and patted my knee.

I didn't move my leg.

"You've got nerve," I said.

"I'm here for you." She looked straight ahead at the stage. "Whatever you think I did, I'm still here."

Her eyes were wet and perfectly sincere.

I had believed that face for twenty-two years.

At the head of the table, the chair of the board tapped the microphone.

"This is the annual audit session of Hallstrom Home Systems," he said. "The first item is the matter of the account opened March fourteenth, and the conduct clause of the Dunleavy trust. Mr. Hallstrom."

Gavin stood.

He spoke without a note, and he was very good.

He said it with sorrow.

He said four hundred and twelve thousand dollars had left the company, that the account was in my name, and that I had been given every chance to explain.

"I'm not here to punish my wife," he said. "I'm here to protect two hundred jobs."

A few people nodded in the rows behind me.

"Mrs. Hallstrom," the chair said. "You hold Mr. Corliss's proxy. You may speak."

I stood up.

The aisle microphone was where it had been at the gala, and I walked to it with Kinsley's bag over my shoulder.

"I'll be quick," I said. "I'm going to play you two things."

I took out the second phone.

Behind me I heard Joanna shift in her chair.

← Chapter 17 · All chapters · Chapter 19 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend