Chapter 10 - The Midpoint Lie
Claire checked into a hotel under another name.
She could not return to Julian.
She could not return to Evelyn.
She barely knew where “home” was anymore.
At midnight, Natalie knocked on her door.
Claire almost did not let her in.
Natalie looked terrible.
No makeup.
Swollen eyes.
Hands trembling.
“I told Julian I was going home.”
Claire remained by the door.
“What do you want?”
“To tell you the part he won’t.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“You have twelve years to cover.”
“Fourteen.”
Claire’s face went still.
Natalie cried harder.
“It started before your wedding.”
Claire turned away.
Hearing the truth hurt worse than suspecting it.
Natalie continued.
“I was nineteen.”
“Julian was twenty-seven.”
“He told me he loved me.”
“And then married me.”
Natalie nodded.
“His father told him he had to.”
Claire turned back.
“Why?”
“Because of Voss.”
There it was again.
Natalie wiped her eyes.
“Richard Mercer discovered you were Alexander Voss’s daughter.”
“He wanted my inheritance.”
“He wanted Voss Holdings.”
“Why didn’t Julian just tell me the truth?”
“Because the trust had conditions.”
Claire frowned.
“What conditions?”
“The biological heir had to claim the estate voluntarily.”
Natalie continued.
“If anyone was proven to have coerced the heir, the controlling interest went to a charitable foundation.”
“So Julian married me to manipulate me into claiming it.”
“Yes.”
“Then why wait fourteen years?”
Natalie looked frightened.
“Because they couldn’t prove you were Voss’s daughter without exposing what happened to Sarah.”
Claire’s heartbeat quickened.
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stop lying.”
“I swear.”
Natalie stepped closer.
“I only learned about Sarah last year.”
Claire studied her.
“And Owen?”
Natalie started crying again.
“Julian promised we would eventually be together.”
“You let me raise his son as my nephew.”
“I know.”
“No, Natalie.”
Claire’s voice cracked.
“You don’t get to say you know.”
Natalie lowered her head.
Then she whispered, “There’s something else.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
“Julian has been moving money for years.”
“From where?”
“Your mother.”
Claire stared.
Natalie pulled out her phone.
“I photographed this after dinner.”
A bank transfer appeared.
EVELYN WHITMORE to MERCER STRATEGIC HOLDINGS.
Eight million dollars.
Claire looked at the date.
Three days after Thomas died.
Natalie whispered, “Mom didn’t just know Julian married you for Voss.”
May you like
“She financed him.”
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