I Thought I Knew Derek, Until His Lies Revealed a Darker Truth I Never Saw Coming

Confronting the Mirror

The representative asked security questions, reviewed the account, and placed a temporary freeze on all outgoing transfers.

“Mrs. Hale,” he said, “there are several online profiles linked to your Social Security number.”

“Two checking accounts and one line of credit.”

“I only have the accounts I’m looking at now.”

“You may need to visit a branch with identification first thing tomorrow.”

Skylar looked at the folder containing her police report.

“Can you tell me when the other accounts were opened?”

“One was opened two years and eight months ago. Another was opened last year. The credit line was established eighteen months ago.”

“I’m not authorized to disclose information until identity verification is complete.”

After the call ended, Skylar sat motionless for several minutes. It was only the first wound she could see.

At 7:12 the next morning, Derek’s mother left her fourth voicemail.

“Skylar, sweetheart, this has gone far enough. Derek told me you became hysterical over a misunderstanding. Marriage is difficult. You cannot involve police every time your husband loses his temper. Call me before you destroy this family.”

At nine o’clock, she entered the bank’s downtown branch wearing a loose gray blouse, oversized sunglasses, and a medical dressing along her cheek.

The manager, a middle-aged woman named Elena Ruiz, led her into a private office.

Skylar placed her identification, medical report, police statement, and account screenshots on the desk.

“I need to secure everything connected to my name,” she said.

Her professional expression changed when she saw the burn photographs.

“Please don’t be sorry. Just help me stop him,” Skylar implored.

For nearly twenty minutes, she typed and made calls. The office remained silent except for the clicking keyboard and Skylar’s uneven breathing.

“Mrs. Hale, did you authorize a transfer of eighty-seven thousand dollars yesterday?”

“Did you authorize your husband to create online access to your investment account?”

Elena turned the monitor slightly, careful not to reveal protected information beyond what Skylar was entitled to see.

The pending transfer had been initiated from an online device registered under Derek’s name. The receiving account belonged to Suzanne.

Skylar felt something inside her go cold.

“It’s already flagged,” Elena replied. “But there is more.”