My Husband Introduced His Mistress Before He Introduced Me—Then I Took Away Everything He Thought He Owned

I read the marriage certificate three times.

The first time, I thought it was a mistake.

The second time, I wondered whether someone had created a fake document to frighten me.

By the third time, I recognized the signature.

Grant Whitmore.

The certificate listed his name beside another woman's.

*Rebecca Anne Lawson.*

Date of marriage: September 14, 2012.

My wedding date was June 22, 2014.

I looked at Daniel.

"Tell me this isn't real.""

He took the document from my hands and examined it carefully.

"Where did this come from?""

"My mother's old email account.""

Daniel leaned closer to the screen.

"Has this account been active recently?""

"I don't know. Mom died four years ago.""

He studied the email header.

"Someone accessed it yesterday.""

Vanessa sat rigidly across from us.

"I know Rebecca," she whispered.

I turned toward her.

"You know her?""

Vanessa nodded.

"Not personally. Grant mentioned her once. He said she was an old girlfriend who had caused problems when he was starting his business.""

"An old girlfriend?""

"That's what he called her.""

I looked back at the certificate.

"How long were they married?""

Vanessa swallowed.

"According to what Grant told me, less than a year.""

Daniel placed the document on the table.

"That doesn't establish whether the marriage was legally dissolved.""

I stared at him.

"What happens if it wasn't?""

He didn't answer immediately.

He didn't need to.

My marriage might never have been legally valid.

Nine years of holidays, anniversaries, shared homes, and promises could have been built on a lie.

I felt sick.

"Find her," I said.

Daniel nodded.

"We'll have our investigators verify the marriage and search for divorce records.""

"Today.""

He picked up his phone.

Vanessa suddenly leaned forward.

"There's something you need to know about Rebecca.""

I turned.

"What?""

"She didn't disappear because the relationship ended.""

Vanessa looked frightened.

"Grant paid her to leave.""

I stared at her.

"How much?""

"I don't know. But I saw a transfer once. It was made from a company account. The memo said 'final settlement.''"

Daniel's expression hardened.

"Do you have a copy?""

"No.""

"Did you ever see the account number?""

Vanessa shook her head.

"Grant handled everything.""

I looked at her.

"Funny how he handled everything while you enjoyed the money.""

Her eyes filled.

"I know what I did. I'm not asking you to forgive me.""

"Good.""

She lowered her head.

Daniel interrupted.

"Ms. Reed, if you're cooperating, I need complete disclosure. Every payment, every conversation, every document you received from Grant.""

Vanessa nodded.

"I'll give you everything.""

"Why now?""

She looked at me.

"Because last night, I discovered he had prepared something for me too.""

She removed another document from her handbag.

It was a confidentiality agreement.

At the bottom was a paragraph stating that Vanessa would assume full responsibility for any unauthorized transfers involving V.R. Strategic Ventures.

My eyebrows rose.

"He wanted you to take the blame.""

Vanessa nodded.

"He said it was standard legal protection. Then I found an email from his attorney telling him to make sure I signed before the acquisition closed.""

Daniel read the document.

"Did you sign it?""

"No.""

"Good.""

I stood and walked toward the window.

I could see the city reflected in the glass.

For nine years, Grant had convinced me that he was the reasonable one.

Whenever I questioned something, he told me I was suspicious.

Whenever I challenged a decision, he said I didn't understand business.

Whenever my mother warned me, he called her controlling.

Now I understood why.

He hadn't wanted a partner.

He'd wanted access.

My phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

I answered.

"Hello?""

A woman's voice responded.

"Is this Nia Whitmore?""

"Yes.""

"My name is Rebecca Lawson.""

I froze.

Daniel immediately looked up.

"How did you get this number?"" I asked.

"Your mother's attorney contacted someone I know. I was told you needed to speak with me.""

I gripped the phone.

"Are you married to Grant Whitmore?""

There was a long silence.

Then Rebecca said:

"Legally? I don't know anymore.""

"What does that mean?""

"It means Grant told me he had filed for divorce. He showed me paperwork. I believed him.""

Daniel gestured for me to put the call on speaker.

I did.

Rebecca continued.

"We married in 2012. He was already involved in a business dispute with my father. After the wedding, I discovered he'd used my name to establish two companies.""

My stomach tightened.

"Did you ever divorce him?""

"I never received a final decree.""

Daniel leaned toward the phone.

"Ms. Lawson, this is Daniel Bennett. Do you have a copy of the divorce paperwork Mr. Whitmore gave you?""

"Yes. I kept everything.""

"Could you send it to us?""

"I can. But there's something else.""

Rebecca's voice became unsteady.

"Grant contacted me three weeks ago.""

I felt my heartbeat quicken.

"What did he want?""

"He wanted me to sign a declaration stating that our marriage had been legally dissolved in 2013.""

"Why?""

"He said someone was reviewing his corporate ownership structure.""

Daniel and I exchanged a glance.

Rebecca continued.

"I refused. Then he threatened to release private information about my father.""

"Did he tell you what he was planning?""

"No. But he said something I'll never forget.""

"What?""

"He said, 'If Nia finds out about the first marriage, she'll start asking questions about the second one.''"

My blood ran cold.

"The second one?""

Rebecca took a shaky breath.

"Grant married someone else after me.""

The room went silent.

"Who?"" I whispered.

Rebecca answered.

"Vanessa.""

I turned slowly.

Vanessa's face had gone completely white.

"What?"" she whispered.

Rebecca continued.

"They had a private ceremony in Nevada last year. I found out because Grant asked me to sign a document confirming that he was single when he married her.""

Vanessa stood so abruptly that her chair scraped across the floor.

"He's married to me?""

Daniel reached for the phone.

"Ms. Lawson, we need the location and date of that ceremony.""

But Rebecca wasn't finished.

She said something that made my entire body go cold.

"There's a bigger problem. Grant told me he was going to use both marriages to protect the company from a lawsuit.""

I looked at Daniel.

"What lawsuit?""