16. Chapter Sixteen
“Who’s a good boy?” I scratch behind Toby’s ears, earning an approving grumble from the sleepy mastiff.
I’m sprawled on the couch, Toby’s massive head resting on my lap while his snores compete with the ticking grandfather clock in the corner. With my parents visiting family in Oklahoma for the week, this is exactly what I need after a weekend with Henry and his family.
Just then, my phone buzzes on the coffee table, and the screen lights up with a call from my lawyer. My heart tightens.
“Hello?” I answer, trying to keep my voice light despite the clenching in my stomach.
“Hi, Rose, it’s Brian Shaw. I wanted to call and let you know that we’ve uncovered some alarming information about your husband.” His tone is grave. “It appears Jace has been embezzling funds from the business and stashing them in offshore accounts.”
The words hit like an unexpected splash of ice water, and my hand goes cold around the phone. Toby lifts his head, sensing the change in my demeanor.
“Are you sure?” The question is pointless. I trust my legal team implicitly, but I need to hear it again.
“Completely sure. I’m having my team email you everything this afternoon. You’ll need to look it over and verify, of course. But once you do, we can discuss taking further legal action in the event you choose to prosecute.”
The word jolts me, and I straighten in my seat. “I’ll need you to draft up divorce paperwork as well. Have your team send it with the rest of the files for review.”
“Understood. Oh, and one last thing. We would strongly advise you to consider freezing all accounts tied to the business. This will prevent him from accessing any additional funds until mediation.”
“Thanks, Brian. I’ll call the bank today. Call me if you need anything else from me.”
“I will, and you do the same. Goodbye, Rose.”
I disconnect the call and stare blankly at the wall as I begin
chewing on my bottom lip. Suddenly, nothing about the familiar patterns of the wallpaper comforts me.
Toby nudges my hand with his wet nose, pulling me back to the moment. “Did you know, boy? Could you tell he wasn’t the man I thought he was?” He doesn’t answer, but when he licks my hand, I take it as a yes. After all the times we’d come to visit, Toby never did warm up to Jace like he did everyone else.
“Guess it’s just you and me now. Huh, Tobes?” I rub his belly, and he responds with a soft woof.
Three days fly by in a haze of legal calls and paperwork, and once again, I’m sprawled on the living room couch with Toby, flipping through an old romance novel, when his ears perk up. A low growl rumbles from his chest. I sit up, heart racing as a knock echoes through the house. Toby’s bark is thunderous.
“Toby, hush! What’s gotten into you?” I stand, smoothing my shirt and running my hands through my hair. “Stay.”
Toby obeys my command, but his gaze remains fixed on the front door as another series of knocks sounds. I exhale slowly and reach for the doorknob.
“We need to talk.” My blood runs cold the moment I crack open the door.
“What are you doing here, Jace?” I try to hide the alarm in my voice, but inside, I’m a whirlwind of nerves and anger.
“Let me in, Rose. It’s a hundred degrees out here, and I’m not having this conversation on the porch.” His eyes are desperate, pleading.
I hesitate but step aside, hoping to keep things civil. As soon as he steps in, Toby’s hackles raise, and he lets out a protective growl.
“Easy, boy,” I say softly, but my attention is on Jace. “Now, tell me why you’re here. You didn’t even think to call first?”
He runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his features. “I can’t access the accounts, Rose. The business needs money to function, and you’ve locked me out.”
“Of course I did. You were stealing from it, Jace! What did you expect me to do once I found out? Pat you on the back?” The words spill out hot and fast.
“Stealing? Is that what they told you?” He scoffs, trying to look incredulous, but I see right through him.
“I saw the evidence. Offshore accounts, Jace? Really?” My arms are folded tight across my chest. “You’ve been taking money that doesn’t belong to you. And the fact that you did this all behind my back—“
“Look, things got complicated. I needed to move some money around. It wasn’t stealing,” he insists, his voice rising with each word.
“Stop lying to me! Just stop.” I take a step closer, fueled by anger. “I trusted you. I shared everything with you, and this is how you repay me?”
“Rose, honey, come on. Let’s just sit down and talk about this for a minute. So I made a few mistakes. Surely, there’s something we can do to work this out.” His attempt at charm is transparent, but it makes my stomach turn.
“Talk? No, Jace. There’s nothing left to talk about. Not after you continue to betray my trust.” Toby growls in agreement.
“Betray? You think moving money around from a business I own is betrayal?“ His voice cracks and the fa?ade starts to crumble. “Listen, I know you’re upset about Monica, but I built that business with you. You can’t just cut me out!”
“Watch me.” The finality in my voice echoes through the room, and Toby’s tail wags as if he understands the significance of my declaration.
Before he can say another word, I reach for the manila envelope on the coffee table and thrust it towards him.
“Here.”
He eyes the envelope warily. “What’s that?”
“Divorce papers,” I say, my voice strong and steady. “I was going to mail them, but since you’re here, I might as well save myself the postage.”
Jace’s face contorts with anger. “You really want to divorce me?“ He snatches the envelope from my hands with exaggerated force. “Fine. But don’t think you can throw me out of the business I helped build without a fight. You’re nothing without me, Rose.”
“Actually, that’s exactly what I intend to do.“ My gaze doesn’t waver despite the venom in his eyes.
“Rose,” he sneers, leaning in so close I can feel the heat of his breath. “You were always so naive, so easy to manipulate. It’s pathetic, really.”
“Is that what you tell yourself to justify cheating on me?” The defiance coursing through my veins is the only thing holding back my sudden surge of tears.
He pauses, and a cruel smirk forms on his lips. “Your drive and ambition were admirable. I’ll give you that. But face it. You don’t know the first thing about satisfying a man. Our marriage was nothing more than a glorified business arrangement, and you know it. You never deserved me.”
I flinch as his words cut through the deepest parts of my insecurities. Now, nothing is holding me back.
“Get out!” I point to the door, hot tears streaming down my face as my whole body shakes with rage. “Just… Go!”
“Fine.” His voice turns ice-cold. “But this isn’t over, Rose. Not by a long shot.”
Toby barks sharply as Jace strides toward the door and slams it behind him, leaving me alone with the mess of my shattered marriage.
But I remind myself there’s no time for tears. I have a business to save, dignity to uphold, and a future to rebuild.
One without Jace Thatcher.
***
The sound of the doorbell wakes me, and I wipe my tear-stained face with the back of my hand. Toby’s low growl turns to excited barks as I open the front door.
“Henry?”
“Rose, are you okay? You’ve been crying.” His deep voice is filled with a knowing concern.
“Jace was here,” I say, my voice breaking. “We had a fight, and I—I served him with divorce papers.”
Henry’s face drops, and he steps into the house. “Yeah, I was afraid something might’ve gone down. I got a call from Larry and came right over,” he says, his tone serious now. “Seems your soon-to-be ex made quite the scene at the coffee shop on his way out of town.”
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach. “What do you mean?”
“He spread some pretty ugly rumors, Rose. He told everyone that you’ve been here in Sugar Plum having an affair.” Henry’s eyes search mine with a look I’m not equipped to decipher.
“He said I’m the one having an affair?“ The news is almost too much to process, and I feel my knees start to buckle. “I think I need to sit down.”
“Here, I got you.” Henry slips an arm around my waist and guides me back to the couch. “So… what happened? He came here, and what?”
I sink onto the sofa, feeling the weight of the world resting on my shoulders. “Oh, Henry, everything is so messed up.” My words tumble out in a rush. “My lawyers found out Jace has been embezzling money into offshore accounts.”
“That sorry son of a gun.” Henry’s voice lowers into a grumble. “Well, that would explain why he’s stirring up trouble. Sounds an awful lot like retaliation if you asked me.”
“He sure picked an opportune time to make such an accusation.” My heart feels like it’s being squeezed. Doesn’t Henry realize what this could mean for the both of us? “You know… after everything that happened at the reunion, maybe it’s best if you and I put a little distance between us. Just until this all blows over. I don’t need you getting sucked into my mess.”
When I meet his gaze, I don’t expect the look of hurt and confusion staring back at me.
“Do you think I care about anything this town says about me? If anyone wants to talk, let them talk. We both know the truth, Rose.” Henry’s jaw sets firm, and there’s an assurance in his voice that makes me want to trust him even when I feel like I don’t know how. “Besides, anyone who knows you won’t believe a word of it.”
“Oh, you think so, huh?” My words drip with sarcasm. It’s hard not to be cynical when I think about all the Nancy Wades of Sugar Plum.
“Rose, look at me.” He waits until my gaze lifts to his face. “Now, if you ever tell Larry I said this, I’ll deny it until my dying day, but you are still my best friend. I know I haven’t always been there for you, but I’m here now. And I won’t let you go through this alone.”
“Promise?” I ask, needing to hear the words.
“Promise.” His hand finds mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll protect you just like I always should have.”