Tyler answered on the second ring, breathless. “What?”
I forced my voice to sound small, broken. “Tyler… I’m scared. I got papers in the mail—loans, accounts I don’t recognize. I don’t understand. Please… just tell me what’s going on.”
A pause. I could hear background noise—an airport announcement?
Then his tone turned smug. “You really want to know? Fine. I did what I had to do. You were dead weight, Ava. I needed capital to start over. And you were the easiest name to use. Your credit was pristine.”
My vision blurred with rage and heartbreak. “You used my identity?”
“Yeah,” he snapped. “And if you keep asking questions, I’ll make sure you never see a dime in child support. I’ll make sure you lose the house before the baby is even born. You hear me?”
Nathan’s jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek, but he stayed silent, letting the recorder run.
I whispered, “So… you forged my signature on the loan documents?”
Tyler laughed. “Don’t act innocent. You benefited from my paycheck for years. Consider this your repayment.”
My nails dug into my palm until I felt skin break. “And Madison?”
“She’s smarter than you,” he said coldly. “She understands loyalty. She helped me set up the accounts. Now stop calling me. You’re blocked.”
The line went dead.
The room went silent except for my shaking breath.
Rachel exhaled, typing furiously. “We got it. That’s a confession to fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy.”
Nathan stepped closer. “Ava, I’m sorry you had to hear that. But you just saved yourself.”
I stared at him, exhausted, the adrenaline crashing. “Saved myself… how? He’s leaving.”
Nathan looked down at the recording device, then back at me. “We’ll file charges tonight. The authorities are waiting at the airport. He won’t make that flight.”
He paused, his gaze intense. “And tomorrow, I’ll make sure you have legal protection, financial counseling, and a safe place to stay. No strings attached. Carter Holdings takes care of its own messes.”
I blinked, confused. “Why would you do that for a stranger?”
Nathan’s expression didn’t change, but his voice lowered, losing its corporate edge. “Because I’ve seen what men like Tyler do to women who have no backup. And because… my mother was one of them. She didn’t have anyone to hand her a recorder.”
For the first time, the “millionaire CEO” in front of me looked human. Vulnerable.
“Go home, Ava,” Nathan said gently. “Sleep. We’ll handle the rest.”
Chapter 4: The Clean Slate
Two weeks later, I sat in a small café, watching the rain streak the window. My phone buzzed. It was a news alert.
Local Man Arrested at Airport in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme.
I didn’t click on it. I knew the story. I lived the story.
