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Novel Catalog
Chapter_32
Transfer of Assets
It was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend. I admired couples who could stay together despite the absence of genuine feelings. But for me, life at home had devolved into nothing more than a performance. Matthew and I were actors, each of us showcasing our best acting skills.
I couldn’t bear to be intimate with him after discovering that condom. His slightest touch made me feel nauseous, and the images of his infidelity that had come to light were repulsive beyond measure. Every time he laid a hand on me, I felt a chill running down my spine. The worst part? He seemed to be more indifferent toward me lately. The constant little annoyances that used to keep me on edge no longer mattered to him. He had stopped insisting on the small things once I started standing my ground. It was obvious: he was growing more distant, and I was beginning to feel the weight of his neglect.
In the past few days, I had been diving deeper into the data that Ivanna had gathered. To my surprise, the sales figures from the past few years were impressive, far beyond my original expectations. However, 80% of the clients were old customers I had nurtured. Many of them were prospects I had identified years ago and watched grow into successful ventures over time. Matthew, in contrast, had done nothing but reap the benefits of my hard work. He had effortlessly ascended, riding on my coattails—no wonder he had been so easily swayed by his lust.
The information Matthew had passed to Johnson was about some recent business ventures he had started. As I checked the details, I realized they were all development companies with no physical presence—speculative ventures sustained by deception. I wasn’t surprised by this behavior, as it was typical of Matthew to engage in risky enterprises for short-term gain. But what really bothered me was something that didn’t add up in the financial records.
Despite the impressive-looking figures, the collection rates weren’t high. Matthew, with his usual sharp business acumen, would never have allowed such debts to accumulate without addressing them. Even with all the financial records, there wasn’t the liquidity I expected. The money had to be going somewhere—yet I couldn’t figure out where.
The more I reviewed the information, the clearer it became: Matthew had been hiding assets from me. This “asset transfer” wasn’t something new; it had been going on for a while. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for not uncovering this sooner, but at least now I had a chance to do something about it.
Ivanna had good news as well. She had been tracking Johnson’s movements and had gathered a comprehensive schedule of his daily activities, along with more of his secrets. This was the break I needed, and I was determined to use it to force him to confront the reality of his actions.
The morning arrived, and Matthew and I headed to the company once again. Afterward, I noticed Johnson entering the building, his presence unmistakable. I seized the opportunity.
I only took the two keys I had found and quietly left Galar Tower. A cab ride later, I arrived at Amethyst Apartments. The workers were almost finished with the renovations, and the place was nearly ready.
I dismissed the workers and took my time inspecting the house. It looked magnificent—smaller than the dream home I had envisioned, but efficient and thoughtfully designed. The decorations were exquisite, with attention to detail that suggested Matthew had refined his taste over time. He wasn’t the same humble youth who used to cram into an old, narrow building with his family. Now, it was clear he had a taste for luxury.
Matthew had been well-behaved lately, staying at the company and appearing to focus on his work. On the surface, he seemed to have changed, leaving no trace of his past misdeeds. But I knew better. It was second nature for him to play the part, to hide behind a façade.
After taking my time with the tour, I checked the clock. It was almost time. I went downstairs, took a seat on the elegant European-style sofa in the living room, and waited for Johnson’s arrival. This was the moment I’d been preparing for.