Chapter 5 - Ava’s Test
Three weeks before the barbecue, Ava came home from Marissa’s apartment carrying a new designer handbag.
Claire recognized the brand immediately.
The bag cost more than a thousand dollars.
“That’s beautiful,” Claire said. “Was it a birthday gift?”
Ava placed it on the kitchen counter.
“Mom bought it.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
He avoided her eyes.
Marissa had complained two months earlier that she could not afford Ava’s school fees.
Claire had paid them.
Now Marissa was buying luxury accessories.
That night, Claire checked the latest financial report from Helen.
Another company payment had been approved by Daniel.
Six thousand dollars.
The following morning, Claire confronted him privately in the garage.
“This stops today.”
Daniel closed the car door.
“What stops?”
“The payments to Marissa.”
His face changed.
“You went through my accounts?”
“They are company accounts.”
“She is performing legitimate work.”
“Show me one completed project.”
Daniel stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“You need to be careful.”
“Is that advice?”
“You’re making accusations that could destroy this family.”
“You are stealing from my company.”
“Our company.”
“No, Daniel. You are an employee and my husband. Neither role gives you ownership of what you take without permission.”
He stared at her.
Then he smiled.
It was not a warm smile.
“You would never fire me.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone would know what kind of wife you are.”
Claire realized he truly believed public embarrassment controlled her.
He believed she would sacrifice money, dignity, and truth to avoid appearing cold.
Daniel walked past her.
At the doorway, he paused.
“Ava already thinks you want to destroy her family. Fire me and prove her right.”
The threat was not directed at Claire’s job or reputation.
It was aimed at her affection for Ava.
For years, that would have worked.
This time, Claire allowed him to leave.
That evening, Ava sat across from Claire at dinner.
“Dad says you’re trying to take the company away from him.”
Claire set down her glass.
“The company has always belonged to me.”
“That’s not what he says.”
“Your father is employed there.”
“He says you couldn’t run it without him.”
Claire nearly laughed, but Ava’s expression was serious.
“I ran it before I met him.”
“Maybe that’s why you hate Mom.”
“I do not hate your mother.”
“She thinks you’ll divorce Dad and throw us out.”
“Your father and I have not made any announcement.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Daniel sat at the head of the table, pretending to study his phone.
Claire looked at him.
He did not intervene.
Ava pushed her chair back.
“Mom says women like you always pretend to be generous until they get bored.”
She left the room.
The silence afterward felt deliberate.
Daniel continued scrolling.
“You need to correct what she just said,” Claire told him.
“She’s upset.”
“She is repeating your version of our marriage.”
“She’s sixteen.”
“She is sixteen, not incapable of learning respect.”
Daniel placed his phone down.
“You are proving her point.”
“What point?”
“That your love has conditions.”
Claire stared at him.
“All healthy love has boundaries.”
“Not with children.”
“Boundaries protect children. Manipulation does not.”
Daniel stood.
“If you force me to choose, I will choose my daughter every time.”
Claire’s voice remained calm.
“I have never asked you to choose between us.”
“You will.”
He walked away.
Claire sat alone at the table.
May you like
Then she opened her phone and sent Naomi a message.
Prepare the documents.
