Chapter 10 - DIANE'S SECRET ACCOUNT
The private group changed everything.
Claire's attorney, Hannah Price, understood it immediately.
"This establishes a pattern."
Claire sat across from Hannah's desk with Elizabeth beside her.
"A pattern of what?"
"Separate monetization streams."
Hannah pointed at the screenshots.
"Your husband may argue that public donations were gifts to the household. That argument becomes weaker when we can show fabricated medical claims, private solicitations and accounts intentionally hidden from you."
Claire felt exhausted.
"Can I get the money back for these people?"
"Possibly some of it."
"I don't want it."
Hannah looked at her.
"What?"
"The donation money."
"It may legally be marital property depending on how accounts were structured."
"I don't care."
Claire's voice broke.
"I don't want to buy my daughter's crib with money people sent because they thought she might die."
Elizabeth squeezed her hand.
Hannah nodded.
"Then we document that position."
They filed for a protective order.
They also began the divorce process.
Claire stared at the papers before signing.
She had been married to Ryan for seven years.
Seven years reduced to signature lines.
Hannah noticed her hesitation.
"Are you sure?"
Claire signed.
"Yes."
That afternoon, Hannah obtained information Claire had not expected.
Ryan had moved money.
Fast.
Dawson Media Holdings held only eighteen thousand.
Where had the rest gone?
Northline Digital received twenty-two thousand.
Another nineteen thousand went to an investment platform.
Ten thousand paid personal credit cards.
Eight thousand went toward Ryan's truck.
Six thousand paid Diane's mortgage arrears.
Claire stared.
"Diane's mortgage?"
Elizabeth cursed under her breath.
Hannah continued.
"And approximately fourteen thousand was transferred to an account in Diane's name."
Claire sat back.
Diane had been paid.
Not helping.
Paid.
That night Claire watched old videos again.
Now every interaction looked different.
Diane adjusting Claire's hair.
Diane telling her to rest.
Diane bringing soup.
Diane whispering how brave she looked.
Behind each gesture had been an accountant's eye.
How vulnerable did Claire appear?
How much sympathy would it generate?
Would the audience donate?
Claire closed the laptop.
"I want to talk to her."
Elizabeth looked up.
"No."
"I need to."
"Why?"
"Because I want to hear her explain it."
Hannah advised against meeting privately.
So Claire agreed to communicate through a recorded video call with her attorney present.
Diane joined from her living room.
She looked tired.
Not remorseful.
Tired.
Claire stared at the woman she had called Mom for seven years.
"Why?"
Diane sighed.
"You already decided I'm a monster."
"Why?"
"We had bills."
"You received fourteen thousand dollars."
"I deserved compensation."
Claire stared.
"For what?"
Diane's tone sharpened.
"For managing everything."
"Managing me?"
"Managing the audience."
Hannah glanced at Claire.
Claire continued.
"Did you know the medical reports were fake?"
Diane looked away.
"Ryan handled documents."
"Did you know I was healthy?"
"You complained constantly."
Claire laughed in disbelief.
"I was pregnant."
"You were dramatic."
"Did you know he told people my baby might need heart surgery?"
Silence.
"Diane."
"I knew he was raising money."
"That wasn't my question."
Diane leaned closer to the camera.
"You want the truth?"
Claire's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"The truth is nobody would have donated if we told them everything was fine."
Claire felt as if something inside her cracked.
Diane continued.
"People need a reason to care."
"So you gave them one."
"We gave them a story."
"My child was the story."
"Your child was never in danger."
"You made people believe she was."
Diane rolled her eyes.
"Nobody forced them to send money."
Hannah quietly wrote something down.
Claire realized Diane was incriminating herself without understanding it.
Claire asked one final question.
"When Ryan frightened me on camera, did you know I wasn't acting?"
Diane's face changed slightly.
Claire saw it.
"Answer me."
Diane said, "Sometimes real reactions work better."
Claire ended the call.
She sat motionless.
Hannah closed her notebook.
"That was useful."
Claire looked at her.
"Useful?"
Hannah softened.
"I'm sorry. Legally useful."
Claire stared at the dark screen.
She had hoped for something impossible.
A trace of regret.
May you like
Instead she had received the truth.
Diane believed Claire's fear had been a production cost.
