Chapter 2: Seat 7C
For a moment, no one moved.
Julian's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
The woman in 7B looked up from her phone.
She was exactly as the photographs showed — young, polished, completely unprepared for this moment.
Elena smiled at them both and sat down in 7C.
"Julian," she said quietly.
"You look pale.
Long morning?"
"Elena — this isn't — you don't understand what you're —"
"I understand perfectly." She rested the leather folder on her lap.
"Sit down.
We have a four-hour flight."
Chloe leaned toward Julian and whispered something.
He shook his head sharply.
His hands were trembling.
The flight attendant moved through the cabin.
The boarding door sealed shut.
Julian turned back to Elena, his voice dropping to almost nothing.
"What do you want?"
"Right now?
Nothing." Elena looked out the window.
"But my attorney had a very productive morning.
The joint accounts, the business transfers, the property in Gloucester you forgot to mention — she found all of it."
Julian went completely still.
"You moved money out of our shared account," Elena continued, her voice never rising.
"Three separate transfers over four months.
My lawyer calls that dissipation of marital assets." She paused.
"The judge will too."
Chloe was no longer looking at her phone.
Julian reached out and touched Elena's arm.
May you like
She looked down at his hand.
Then she opened the folder.
