Chapter 6
First thing the next morning, Helen called her lawyer.
Elena had handled their family legal work for ten years.
When she heard Helen’s voice, she sighed.
“I’ve been waiting for you to call.”
Helen froze.
“You knew?”
“Grant came to see me three months ago. He asked about filing for divorce without your signature. He said you’d been gone so long you’d abandoned the marriage.”
“He was planning this all along.”
“He also asked about transferring assets into a partner’s name before the divorce was finalized.”
“Vanessa.”
“It looks that way. Helen... he’s been moving money out of joint accounts for months. He’s put property, stocks, and even the house itself under the foundation’s name—which Vanessa controls.”
Helen felt sick.
“He’s been planning to leave me with nothing.”
“I need you to come to my office right now. And bring every document you have—bank statements, deployment orders, letters, anything that proves you contributed to this family and this business.”
Helen hung up and packed every file she had kept locked away.
When she arrived at Elena’s office, her lawyer spread papers across the desk.
“Look at this.”
It was a marriage license.
Grant and Vanessa.
Dated three months prior.
Helen’s hands shook.
“That’s impossible. We’re still married.”
“Not if he forged your signature on an annulment request. He submitted paperwork claiming you’d been missing for over five years. He claimed he had no way to contact you.”
“He knew exactly where I was!”
“I know. But legally, until we prove otherwise, they are considered married in the eyes of the state.”
Helen leaned back in the chair.
She wasn’t just fighting for her marriage.
She was fighting for her identity.
For her name.
For every single thing she had ever worked for.
Elena placed a hand over hers.
May you like
“We can fight this. But it’s going to get ugly. He has money. He has influence. He has people on his side.”
“I have the truth,” Helen said quietly. “And I have nothing left to lose.”
