Chapter 6 - Before They Met
Jonathan opened the encrypted flash drive that afternoon.
The files contained old payroll records, settlement agreements, internal emails, and surveillance photographs.
Margaret had worked for Claire’s father for seven years.
She had been dismissed fourteen years ago.
Claire met Ethan ten years ago.
That timing alone made Claire uneasy.
Then Daniel found something worse.
Ethan had applied for a job at Claire’s father’s company eleven years ago.
He had been rejected.
Six months later, he joined the same charity board Claire volunteered with.
That was where they first met.
Claire remembered the evening perfectly.
Ethan had spilled wine near her table.
They laughed.
He asked for her number.
She had always called it fate.
Now Daniel placed the old charity registration beside Ethan’s rejected application.
Same handwriting.
Same email address.
Claire felt sick.
“You think he joined the charity because of me?”
“I think it deserves investigation.”
Jonathan opened another file.
A recording.
Claire’s father’s voice filled the conference room.
“If Margaret ever approaches Claire through her son, document everything.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Her father had known Ethan existed.
He had known the possibility.
Yet he never warned her.
The recording continued.
“I cannot forbid my daughter from loving someone.”
“But if Ethan Whitmore enters her life, I want safeguards around every asset she owns.”
Claire looked at Jonathan.
“That’s why the trust was structured this way.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Your father made it nearly impossible for a spouse to control.”
“Nearly.”
Claire looked at the forged documents.
Jonathan sighed.
“They found another path.”
Daniel returned from the hallway.
“I found something you need to see.”
He placed photographs on the table.
Ethan and Margaret had attended several meetings with a private lender during the past year.
One photograph included a third person.
Claire recognized him.
Victor Hale.
Ethan’s business partner.
Victor had attended Lily’s birthday party.
He had watched Margaret humiliate Lily.
He had said nothing.
“What are they borrowing money for?”
Claire asked.
Daniel opened a property development plan.
Luxury condominiums.
The projected site address was Claire’s home.
Her six-acre property sat in one of the most valuable residential districts outside Boston.
If rezoned and redeveloped, it could generate tens of millions.
Claire whispered.
“They weren’t just stealing the house.”
“They were going to destroy it.”
Jonathan nodded.
“And build on it.”
Claire’s phone suddenly rang.
Rebecca.
Claire answered immediately.
Her friend was crying.
“Claire, someone came to my house.”
Claire stood.
“Where’s Lily?”
“She’s with me.”
“She’s safe.”
“But a man left something at the front door.”
“What?”
“A stuffed rabbit.”
Claire’s skin went cold.
Lily loved rabbits.
Rebecca continued.
“There’s a note tied around its neck.”
“What does it say?”
May you like
Rebecca’s voice shook.
“Tell Claire to stop digging.”
