My Wife Killed Me, Now I’m the Apocalypse Billionaire

Chapter 6: Retainer

Sean stepped out of the elevator into a reception area that smelled like leather and fresh espresso. The floors were polished marble, the walls lined with framed case victories and bar association honors. Everything about the place said one thing: we don't lose.

Sean had found Karla Singh through three hours of research the night before. She was ranked as one of the top five divorce and asset protection attorneys in the state. Her win rate in post divorce disputes was ninety four percent. Her retainer f*e was two hundred thousand dollars, and she was worth every cent.

The receptionist, a young man in a fitted navy suit, led Sean down a long corridor to a corner office with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. Karla Singh was already standing behind her desk when he walked in.

She was tall, mid forties, with sharp dark eyes and black hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her handshake was firm and brief, and she gestured to the chair across from her without any small talk.

"Mr. Miles. You said on the phone this was urgent. Walk me through it." Karla sat down and opened a leather folder, pen ready.

Sean placed a thick envelope on the desk between them. "Everything is in there. But I'll give you the short version first."

"Go ahead." Karla's eyes were already scanning him, reading him the way good lawyers read everyone who sits in that chair.

"I was married to a woman named Jessica Jones for six years. On March 1st, I filed for divorce. She signed. The certificate was issued at 2:47 PM that same day. At 3:30 PM, less than one hour later, I purchased one hundred lottery tickets. On March 3rd, those tickets hit the Mega Millions jackpot." Sean's voice was steady and factual.

Karla's pen stopped moving. She looked up. "How much?"

"After taxes and structured payouts, roughly two hundred and ten million dollars. The funds are currently held in a blind trust managed by Alan Porter at Davis and Porter." Sean folded his hands in his lap.

"And now the ex wife wants a piece." Karla's tone wasn't a question. It was a statement from a woman who had seen this movie a hundred times.

"She wants all of it. Her family showed up at my home two nights ago demanding I hand over the money. Her father, her mother, and Jessica herself. I have the entire visit recorded on my doorbell camera and two interior security cameras I installed the day I moved in." Sean tapped the envelope. "The footage is on the USB drive inside."

Karla opened the envelope and spread the contents across her desk. Divorce certificate with timestamp. Lottery ticket purchase receipt with timestamp. Bank transfer records from the trust. Security camera screenshots. A printed timeline with every event listed in chronological order.

"You came prepared." Karla's eyebrow lifted slightly, the first hint of anything beyond professional neutrality.

"I don't plan on losing." Sean met her eyes without blinking.

Karla picked up the divorce certificate and examined it closely. Then the lottery receipt. She placed them side by side and tapped the timestamps with the tip of her pen.

"2:47 PM divorce finalized. 3:30 PM ticket purchased. That's a forty three minute gap. In the eyes of the law, that's not a gray area, Mr. Miles. That's a canyon. Any asset acquired after the dissolution of marriage is the sole property of the acquiring party. She has no claim." Karla leaned back in her chair with quiet confidence.

"She's already started a public campaign. She posted a video online accusing me of hiding marital assets and timing the divorce to cheat her. It's gotten millions of views." Sean pulled out his phone and showed her Jessica's video.

Karla watched the entire three minutes without expression. When it ended, she set the phone down and folded her hands.

"Has she made any specific legal threats in writing?"

"She sent me a text message last night telling me she would keep posting videos unless I shared the money. I have the screenshot." Sean swiped to the message and turned the phone back toward her.

Karla read it, then a slow, thin smile crossed her face. "She just handed you a harassment and extortion case on a silver platter. This text alone is enough to file for a restraining order and a defamation suit."

"I want both." Sean's voice didn't waver.

"You'll have both. But let me ask you something, Mr. Miles." Karla set down her pen and studied his face carefully. "On the phone, you mentioned a child. A boy named Jack. You gave up custody voluntarily during the divorce. Is there a reason for that?"

Sean was quiet for a moment. His jaw tightened, and he looked out the window at the city below.

"I have reason to believe Jack is not my biological son."

Karla's expression didn't change, but her eyes sharpened. "Reason to believe, or evidence?"

"I have a hair sample. I collected it the day of the divorce. I haven't submitted it for testing yet." Sean turned back to face her.

"Why not?"