Chapter 9 - Why Julian Married Her
Julian came home at four that afternoon.
Claire was waiting.
The divorce petition sat on the kitchen island.
So did the guardianship order.
So did Richard Mercer’s letter.
Julian stopped in the doorway.
For once, he had no prepared expression.
Claire pointed to the chair across from her.
“Sit.”
He did.
“Did you know before our wedding?”
Julian stared at Richard’s letter.
“Yes.”
The answer cut deeper than Claire expected.
“How much?”
“That you were Evelyn Hale’s daughter.”
“The trust?”
“I knew there was one.”
“How much was it worth?”
“I didn’t know then.”
Claire nodded.
“Did you love me?”
“Yes.”
“Be careful.”
“I loved you.”
“Did you choose me because of the money?”
“No.”
“Did your father introduce us?”
Julian looked away.
Claire felt something inside her crack.
“He did.”
“Yes.”
Their first meeting had been at a charity architectural exhibit.
Claire had believed it accidental.
Richard Mercer had arranged it.
“Did you know that?”
“Not until later.”
“When?”
“A month before the wedding.”
“And you married me anyway.”
“Because I loved you.”
Claire pushed the divorce papers toward him.
“Is this love?”
Julian’s face hardened.
“That became necessary.”
“Necessary?”
“You don’t understand what your trust controls.”
“I understand $612 million.”
His eyes widened.
Claire almost smiled.
“You thought I still didn’t know the number.”
“Claire.”
“Tell me why you need control.”
Julian stood.
“Mercer Hale is overleveraged.”
The answer surprised her.
“How badly?”
“Badly enough.”
“Because of what?”
“Expansion.”
“Whose expansion?”
Julian said nothing.
Claire understood.
“You used company credit against assets belonging to my trust.”
“We were building value.”
“You were gambling with property you did not own.”
“It was supposed to work.”
“But it didn’t.”
Julian walked toward the window.
“We have a debt payment due Monday.”
“How much?”
“Eighty-four million.”
Claire laughed in disbelief.
“Monday?”
“Yes.”
“And if I had signed yesterday?”
“The administrative trust could guarantee the debt.”
“You were going to use my inheritance to cover your mistake.”
“Our company.”
“My inheritance.”
Julian turned.
“Everything we have built is connected.”
“No.”
Claire stood.
“You connected it because you knew I was the safety net.”
Julian rubbed his forehead.
“The investors will walk if they learn the truth.”
“And Paige?”
His silence changed.
Claire whispered, “Tell me.”
Julian looked at her.
“She was helping me negotiate.”
“In parking garages?”
“It became something else.”
Claire wanted to throw something.
Instead, she asked, “Did Diane know about the debt?”
“Yes.”
“Thomas?”
“No.”
“Martin?”
“Parts.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“So you, Paige, and Diane planned to put the trust under your control before Monday.”
Julian said nothing.
Then Claire saw it.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“What happens Monday if I refuse?”
Julian looked toward the documents.
“We lose Mercer Hale.”
Claire almost felt sorry for him.
Then he continued.
“And the bank begins examining every transfer made over the last seven years.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“What transfers?”
May you like
Julian looked at her.
“Transfers Diane never wanted you to see.”
