She Shoved My 4-Year-Old to the Floor Over a Cupcake—Seconds Later, the Entire Wedding Turned Against Her

We did not meet Peter alone.

Two detectives waited in the next room of a downtown office while Mark and I sat across from the attorney we had trusted for seven years.

Peter looked exhausted.

"You think I'm working with Diane," he said.

"Are you?" Mark asked.

Peter rubbed his forehead. "Not the way you think."

Three months earlier, Diane had approached him with documents claiming she needed help resolving old trust issues. Peter discovered irregular transfers and realized she may have committed fraud.

"Why didn't you tell us?" I demanded.

"Because she had something on me."

Diane threatened to report him and destroy his career.

"So you protected her?"

"I delayed her," Peter said. "I told her the forged documents needed additional review. I was trying to buy time."

Mark laughed bitterly. "You could have bought time by calling me."

Peter looked down.

"I was afraid."

I had no sympathy left for adults who protected themselves by leaving children exposed.

"What does she want the money for?"

Peter hesitated.

Then he opened his briefcase.

Silver Creek Events was not really an event company. It was a shell used to move money into a private investment fund controlled by Diane and Victor.

The fund had collapsed.

They owed investors millions.

"The lake sale is not enough," Peter said. "It's one payment in a chain. If Monday's closing fails, several investors will realize the money is gone."

"How much is missing?" Mark asked.

"At least four million. Maybe more."

My stomach dropped.

Diane was not stealing to live comfortably.

She was plugging a financial hole large enough to bury everyone around her.

"And Victor?"

Peter's face changed.

"Victor isn't just her employee. He's her partner."

"Business partner?"

Peter slowly shook his head.

"No."

Mark stared at him.