Chapter 2 - The Mask of Innocence
Breakfast was a masterclass in psychological warfare. Julian strolled into the kitchen twenty minutes later, freshly showered, smelling of expensive sandalwood cologne, and wearing his trademark boyish smile.
“Morning, honey,” he chirped, pouring himself a cup of black coffee. His eyes darted quickly toward Morgan’s neck before he caught himself. “So… how did you sleep? Did you… happen to try on the necklace I got you?”
Morgan kept her eyes fixed on her oatmeal bowl, letting just a flicker of disappointment show on her face—enough to feed his ego and keep him from suspecting she knew the truth.
“I was so exhausted last night, Julian, I completely forgot,” she said, forcing a soft, apologetic sigh. “It’s sitting on the dresser. I’ll wear it tonight for our dinner. Where did you even get it, anyway? It looks expensive.”
Julian’s chest puffed up slightly, a flash of smug satisfaction crossing his features. “Oh, just a private dealer I met through a business connection. High-end estate jewelry. Worth every penny. I wanted my hardworking wife to have something special.”
Wife. The word tasted like ash in Morgan’s mouth.
“You shouldn’t have,” Morgan murmured, standing up and grabbing her coat. “Especially with our tight budget. But… thank you. I’ll see you tonight.”
As she walked out the door and headed toward the CTA bus stop, Morgan’s mind raced. Simply avoiding the poison wasn’t enough. If Julian realized she wasn't wearing it, or if his timeline for acquiring the cottage required her death sooner rather than later, he would try another method. She needed leverage, evidence, and an exit strategy.
Instead of going straight to her office, she stopped by a small, discreet legal advisory office near downtown Chicago during her lunch break. She consulted with a sharp family lawyer named Marcus Vance—ironically sharing a surname with the old woman on the bus. She didn’t tell Marcus about the poison yet; she asked a hypothetical question about asset protection, marital property, and life insurance policies.
What Marcus told her confirmed her worst suspicions. In the state of Illinois, if a spouse passes away intestate or with an outdated will, the surviving partner automatically inherits primary estate assets unless a legal separation or strict prenuptial agreement is in place. Furthermore, Marcus pulled up public records using Morgan’s social security number for a quick background check and raised an eyebrow.
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“Morgan, are you aware that a multi-million-dollar term life insurance policy was recently taken out in your name?” Marcus asked, peering over his glasses. “Primary beneficiary: Julian Vance.”
Morgan felt the room spin. Julian hadn't just tried to poison her for a Door County cottage. He was liquidating her entire existence for a massive payout.
