Chapter 9 - “Make Her Sign”
Claire’s first appointment with the bank’s fraud department lasted forty-three minutes. The investigator, a woman named Helen Morris, did not promise anything. She examined the loan document, compared the electronic signature with older records, and asked Claire the same questions in three different ways.
“Did you have access to the device used for verification?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize Ethan to sign on your behalf?”
“No.”
“Did you receive a verification code?”
“Not that I remember.”
Helen wrote something down. “We will open an internal review.”
“Will Ethan be notified?”
“Not immediately.”
Claire felt a weak sense of relief.
“What happens to the loan?”
“Until the review is complete, the loan remains active.”
The answer followed her into the parking lot.
She had wanted a clean line between right and wrong. Instead, the bank had given her a process, a case number, and a warning not to alter any evidence.
Lucas arranged for Priya to continue reviewing the company’s accounts. They discovered that the $2.4 million loan had been split among three developments. One payment had covered overdue contractors. Another had gone to the secret account controlled by Ethan and Vanessa.
The third had been withdrawn in cash.
“He’s using new debt to hide old debt,” Priya said.
“Can the company survive?” Claire asked.
“Not without more money.”
“How much more?”
Priya looked at her notes. “At least three million. Maybe four.”
Claire felt dizzy.
That afternoon, she tried to make soup. The smell of onions and broth turned her stomach. She reached for the counter, but the kitchen blurred around her.
Ethan entered just as she sank into a chair.
“Are you sick?”
Claire pressed a hand over her mouth and waited for the nausea to pass. “Probably stress.”
He poured water into a glass. His concern looked convincing enough to hurt.
“You’ve lost weight.”
“Have I?”
“Maybe we should see a doctor.”
“You don’t have time.”
“I can make time.”
Claire took the glass from him. “That would be a first.”
He looked wounded. “I’m trying to fix this.”
“What is this?”
“Us.”
“You can’t fix us while you’re still lying.”
He sat across from her. “I ended things with Vanessa.”
Claire did not believe him.
“When?”
“Recently.”
“Before or after the refinancing papers?”
His mouth tightened. “You’re determined to punish me.”
“You keep calling the consequences punishment.”
Ethan stood. “You don’t understand what I’m trying to protect.”
“Then explain it.”
He left without answering.
Claire waited until he was gone before opening the text Lucas had sent. The bank had confirmed that the signature was created from a device registered to Ethan’s office.
She forwarded the information to Helen.
That evening, Margaret came by again. She did not knock for long before Ethan opened the door.
Claire was in the hallway when Margaret’s gaze fell on her bag. The prenatal vitamins were visible again.
Margaret’s expression sharpened.
“You should tell him,” she said.
“Tell him what?” Ethan asked.
Claire watched Margaret decide whether to speak.
“That you need rest,” Margaret said.
Ethan looked from his mother to Claire. “Is there something I should know?”
Claire smiled faintly. “I’m tired. That’s all.”
Margaret did not look relieved. She looked afraid.
Later, Claire stood outside the guest room and heard Margaret whispering to Ethan in the study.
“You must find out,” Margaret said. “If she is pregnant, we cannot wait.”
“She isn’t,” Ethan answered.
“You don’t know that.”
Claire moved closer to the door.
Margaret’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper.
“If that baby exists, the trust changes everything.”
Claire’s heart began to pound.
May you like
Ethan said something she could not hear.
Margaret answered, “Then make her sign before the child is born.”
