My Husband Of 28 Years Changed The Locks And Gave Me My Clothes In A Garbage Bag. He Didn’t Know My Late Father Left Me A Secret $47 Million Inheritance. Now He’s Begging For Mercy?
Turning the Tables
I didn’t stay at a hotel. That felt wrong somehow, like admitting defeat. Instead, I rented a furnished apartment in Mount Pleasant. Something small and temporary. I needed space to think.
Over the next 3 weeks, I transformed. Not just externally, though that changed too. I cut my hair into a sleek bob. I bought clothes that made me feel powerful: tailored blazers, silk blouses, classic dresses in deep colors. I traded my teaching flats for heels. I got reading glasses with elegant frames instead of the drugstore ones I’d been using.
But the real transformation was internal. Victoria Chen became my general counsel. She was everything Mr. Thompson had promised: brilliant, strategic, and absolutely merciless when it came to protecting her clients.
“Let’s talk about your soon-to-be ex-husband,” she said at our first meeting. “Robert Carter, real estate developer. Tell me everything.”
I told her about the divorce papers. The settlement that gave me nothing. The fact that all our assets were in Robert’s name. Victoria smiled. It reminded me of a shark.
“All assets in his name, including his business, Carter Development Group?”
“Yes.”
“And Carter Development Group owns multiple properties in Charleston’s historic district—hotels, restaurants, event venues?”
“Yes.”
“Mrs. Carter… Diana, let me ask you something. When these establishments play background music, do you think they’ve properly licensed that music?”
I suddenly understood where she was going.
“They would need licenses from music publishers.”
“Correct. And if they’re using music from Matthews Sterling Publishing Catalog without proper licensing, they’re in violation of copyright law. The penalties can be significant.”
“How significant?”
“Statutory damages can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands per infringement. Multiply that by every unlicensed song played in every property over multiple years.”
She let the sentence hang.
“But surely Robert’s properties have the proper licenses?”
Victoria pulled out her laptop.
“I did some preliminary research. Carter Development Group has been using a blanket license from a budget music service, the kind that covers generic royalty-free music. But Mr. Thompson’s team did an audit. Several of Robert’s properties, particularly his boutique hotel and his upscale restaurant, have been playing curated playlists that include your father’s songs, unlicensed.”
I felt something cold and hard settle in my chest.
“How much would the damages be?”
“Conservatively, between 8 and 12 million. If we push for maximum statutory damages, could be higher. Much higher.”
“And Robert doesn’t know?”
“Not yet. The audit was done quietly. He has no idea. He’s been sitting on a ticking time bomb for years.”
I thought about Robert’s words: “You came with nothing. You leave with nothing.”
“What do we do next?” I asked.
“We wait,” Victoria said. “Men like Robert always overextend. He’ll make a mistake, and when he does, we’ll be ready.”
The Trap is Sprung
The mistake came two weeks later. Mr. Thompson called me, excitement in his voice.
“Diana, you need to see this. Robert Carter just filed permits for his biggest project yet. The Harbor View Complex: luxury condos, retail space, a marina. He’s calling it his legacy project.”
“How is he financing it?”
“That’s the interesting part. He’s put up everything as collateral. The townhouse, the beach house, his existing properties—everything. If this project fails, he loses it all.”
I met with Victoria immediately.
“This is our moment,” she said. “Here’s what I propose: We file a cease and desist for the unlicensed music use, but we do it through a shell company, not in your name. Robert won’t know it’s connected to you. He’ll think it’s just another copyright troll. And then, then we wait for him to come begging. Because he will. He can’t afford this lawsuit right now. Not with everything leveraged on the Harbor View project. He’ll want to settle. And when he does…”
Victoria’s smile was fierce.
“We’ll be in a position to negotiate.”
The cease and desist letter hit Robert’s lawyer 3 days later. I knew because Madison posted on social media something about dealing with frivolous lawsuits. “So annoying.” I smiled at my phone.
Two weeks passed. Then my phone rang. Unknown number.
“Diana? It’s Robert.”
I hadn’t heard his voice in 6 weeks. It used to make my heart flutter. Now it just made me tired.
“Hello, Robert.”
“Diana, I… I need to talk to you. Can we meet? Please, it’s important.”
“I don’t think that’s appropriate. We’re in the middle of a divorce.”
“It’s about something else. Business. I really need your help.”
His voice cracked.
“Please, Diana. For old times’ sake.”
For old times’ sake. The audacity. But I needed to hear what he’d say.
“Fine. Tomorrow, 3:00 PM. The coffee shop on Broad Street.”
The Confrontation
I arrived early and chose a table near the back. I wore a navy blue dress, simple but expensive, with my new glasses and a leather portfolio. I looked like what I was: a woman who owned $47 million in music rights.
Robert arrived exactly on time. He looked terrible. His eyes were bloodshot. His suit was wrinkled. He’d lost weight, and not in a healthy way. He sat down without ordering coffee.
“Diana, thank you for meeting me. You said you needed help with something?”
“I do. I’m being sued. Copyright infringement, some music publishing company I’ve never heard of. They’re claiming I used unlicensed music in my properties. The damages they’re asking for…”
He ran his hands through his hair.
“It’s insane. $8 million. I can’t pay that right now. Everything’s tied up in the Harbor View project.”
“That’s unfortunate,” I said calmly.
“The thing is, I remembered something. Your father, he was a musician, right? I thought maybe you might know someone in the music industry who could help me. Someone who could talk to this publishing company, explain that this is all a misunderstanding.”
I stared at him. The irony was so thick I could taste it.
“Robert, let me make sure I understand. You kicked me out of our home with a garbage bag of clothes. You told me I came with nothing and would leave with nothing. You humiliated me, and now you want me to help you?”
He had the grace to look ashamed.
“I know, I was harsh. Madison, she was in my head about things. But Diana, we were together for 28 years. That has to mean something.”
“Madison was in your head,” I repeated. “Where is Madison now?”
He looked away.
“She left. When the lawsuit news came out, she said she needed space. Haven’t heard from her in 3 days.”
Of course she did. Madison wasn’t stupid. She’d seen a sinking ship and jumped off.
“I’m sorry you’re going through this,” I said.
And I meant it. Not because I wanted to help him, but because I’d loved him once, and it’s sad to see anyone destroy themselves.
“But I can’t help you.”
“Diana, please. I’ll do anything. I’ll split the Harbor View profits with you. I’ll sign over the beach house. Just help me make this go away.”
“You don’t understand, Robert. I can’t make it go away, because I’m the one suing you.”
