Ethan stared at me as though I had turned into someone he had never met.
“You told me your father left you nothing.”
I kept my eyes fixed on him.
“I never told you that.”
The color drained from his face.
Then Richard said something that made even me freeze.
“Claire, there’s another problem. Someone from the Walker family tried to transfer thirty million dollars out of your company this afternoon.”
I looked at Ethan.
He immediately turned toward his mother.
Margaret’s voice was barely a whisper.
“You weren’t supposed to find out until after the honeymoon.”
What were they planning after the honeymoon?
I didn’t ask. I didn’t need to. The answer was already written on their faces.
Richard stayed on the line. His voice was calm, professional, the voice of a man who had seen too much to be surprised by anything. “Claire, I have the transfer request in front of me. It was submitted at 2:17 this afternoon. The signature on the authorization form is yours.”
I felt the cold water drip from my chin onto the floor. “I didn’t sign anything.”
“I know,” Richard said. “That’s why I froze it. But someone used your credentials. Someone who had access to your personal documents.”
I looked at Ethan. He was staring at the floor. His jaw was tight. His hands were clenched at his sides.
“Ethan,” I said. “Where are my documents?”
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Margaret stepped forward. Her composure was returning. She smoothed her dress. She lifted her chin. “This is a family matter. We should discuss it privately.”
I laughed. It was a cold sound. “A family matter? You poured dirty water on me. Your son slapped me. And now you’re trying to steal thirty million dollars from my company. This stopped being a family matter the moment you put your hands on me.”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “You have no proof.”
“I have Richard,” I said. “I have the transfer request. I have the timestamp. And I have a security system in this house that I installed three weeks ago.”
Ethan’s head snapped up. “You did what?”
“I installed cameras,” I said. “In the kitchen. In the hallway. In the study. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t trust you. I wanted to see what you would do when you thought no one was watching.”
Margaret’s face went pale. “You can’t record in someone’s private home.”
“It’s my home too,” I said. “My name is on the deed. My money paid for the renovations. My father’s company owns the mortgage. I had every right.”
Ethan took a step toward me. His hand was raised. Not to hit me. Not yet. But the threat was there. The same threat that had been there all night.
