“Julian told me the marriage was over a year ago,” she began.

“He said you’d agreed to separate privately and just needed time.”

I listened.

I could believe she had been lied to at first.

I could also see the expensive bracelet and remember the medical letter she had discussed on video.

Understanding one deception did not erase another.

“He put me in charge of vendor payments when the controller quit,” Chloe said.

“At first I just approved invoices.