Page 98 of Stepson

He chuckles. “We may never know what’s going on inside Marcus’s head, but I’d bet he was using these accounts for tax purposes. According to my records, he filed taxes as married, filing separately. For both of you.”

“Both of us?! I never worked while I was married to Marcus.”

Kurt’s grin widens. “Not according to the IRS.” He searches several other documents before he stops on one. “Did you knowthat Marcus had a will filled out?” I shake my head again. This is all news to me. “I didn’t think so. According to his will, he left you nothing. Not a penny. The house was left to Margaret Marie Johnson, who I assume is Maggie.”

The blood runs from my face as I blow out a breath. I can’t step another foot in that house anyway. Maggie deserves it far more than me. Even if the house was left to me, I’d have sold it before ever moving in there. There are far too many bad memories and only a few good ones with Gabe. They aren’t enough to keep me there, and I want to make new memories with Gabe elsewhere.

“All of his vehicles will be sent to auction to pay off tax debt, unfortunately. Marcus…” he pauses as he pulls out yet another document, “owes millions in back taxes.”

I blow out a breath. Of course, he does. Maggie gets the mansion, and I get nothing. Figures. Not only has Marcus ruined my life, but he made sure I suffered even when we weren’t together any longer. Fucking bastard.

“But luckily for you, Bentley, he filed separately. You don’t owe a penny to the IRS. And these seven accounts in your name? Are yours.”

My body doesn't move a muscle as I melt into the chair, gawking over at him. I’m not responsible for Marcus's tax screw ups, and he technically left me money? I should pinch myself, right?

"Now, the amounts in the seven accounts aren't nearly as much as what you're probably accustomed to, Bentley, but they still add up to quite a sum."

"I never knew how much we had. Marcus never let me know anything. I was allowed to shop wherever I wanted to without a limit, but our net worth was always a secret to me."

He shakes his head. "Well, you no longer have to be in the dark." He grabs a sticky note and writes something down on itbefore he sticks it to the desk in front of me. "This is your new net worth."

I stare down at the number in front of me and nearly pass out. Four and a half million dollars. This can’t be real. Gabe and I are stressing over what to do about money and where we’re going to live, and now we don't have to.

A small sob escapes my lips before I cover it and stare back up at Kurt.

"It's all mine?"

He chuckles again. "It's all yours, Bentley. And since the accounts are already in your name, there isn't a thing you have to do." He opens the drawer to his desk and pulls out a wad of navy blue mini-folders before he hands them to me. "Those are all of your accounts."

I take them with shaking hands before I nearly pass out, hugging them to my chest as I take several deep breaths.

"There's one more thing, Bentley. Marcus had another property that he recently purchased but had never gone to. Since it wasn't added into the will and it was paid for in cash from your accounts, the judge agreed to give it to you as part of the divorce settlement."

He pulls out another folder and slides it over. It has the emblem of a realty company on the front as I slowly open it and peer inside.

I gasp at the photo that greets me. It’s a modern designed home on a cliff that looks like it should be in a movie and not someone's actual home. My eyes find the address below the picture and see that it’s somewhere in California. The home is clear across the country and the perfect place to start over. It’s the only good thing Marcus has ever done for me, and because he was never actually there, I can love the home and start my family there. Now I can only hope that Gabe will be joining us.

“Thank you,” I whisper as tears blur my vision.

Kurt reaches over and grasps my hand. “You’re more than welcome, Bentley. This was a long time coming, and I’m glad I could be here to take that man down again. Now go live your life with Gabe and stay in touch, okay?”

I slowly nod as I stand to my feet, clutching my future tightly to my chest before I turn and leave his office. I’m on cloud nine as I walk through the office, completely unsure whether I’m dreaming or not.

Life is about to change dramatically in the best way possible and all I want to do is share the good news with Gabe. My heart squeezes in my chest at his absence, and I pray he’ll come around. I can technically do this on my own now, but I don’t want to. Gabe is the only man I want to share my life with and he isn’t here for it.

Chapter fifty-one

Gabe

Being away from Bentley for this long is killing me, but I have to do what I have to do. I’m not about to go back to her until I have something to offer. She’s pregnant with my kid and all I have are the clothes on my back. I know she said that money and fancy things don't mean anything to her, but I have this strong desire to give her those things. Bentley deserves the world, and I’m going to give it to her.

"Get back to work!"

I glare at my new boss over my shoulder before I get back to shoveling coal into the fire.

This isn't my dream job but I'll do anything to support Bentley and our kid. It’s also the only place in the city that will hire a convicted felon right on the spot without me having to go backto the Kitten's Lair. Twelve dollars an hour is a slap in the face compared to what I made before my incarceration, but it’ll have to do for now.

"Don't mind him, he's always crabby,” the guy to my left says as soon as the boss is out of sight.

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