Chapter 8 - THE PERSON BEHIND ETHAN
Laura's office was almost empty when Claire arrived.
Laura placed the seventh agreement on the desk.
“This was hidden inside your original marriage file.”
Claire looked at it.
“Who had access?”
“Your wedding attorney.”
“Could Ethan have added it?”
“Not without leaving evidence.”
Claire read the document.
A clause appeared near the bottom.
If the marriage ended within a specified period, certain assets would be subject to review.
Claire stared.
“What is this?”
“An agreement designed to protect someone.”
“Who?”
Laura pointed to a name.
Claire's stomach dropped.
Richard Mercer.
“It wasn't designed to protect Ethan,” Laura said.
“It was designed to protect Richard.”
Claire read further.
“If Ethan divorced you too soon, the assets could be redirected.”
Claire looked up.
“So Richard arranged the marriage?”
“That's what it appears.”
Claire thought about the recording.
Ethan had said he didn't need her forever.
But someone had taught him the plan.
Someone had prepared the documents.
Someone had understood Claire's finances before Ethan ever approached her.
Richard.
Claire leaned back.
“So Ethan wasn't the mastermind.”
“No.”
“He was the instrument.”
Laura nodded.
“But there's more.”
“What?”
Laura slid another page forward.
“This agreement was amended two months after your wedding.”
Claire read the signature.
Ethan.
Then another.
Richard.
And a third.
Diane.
Claire stared.
“They changed the agreement after I married him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Laura pointed to the final clause.
Claire read it.
Her expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Laura answered carefully.
“It means they expected your income to increase.”
Claire felt sick.
“They planned around my promotion.”
“Yes.”
“They knew.”
“Apparently.”
Claire stood.
“My promotion wasn't supposed to happen for another year.”
Laura nodded.
“Which means they knew about it before you did.”
Claire stared at her.
“How?”
Laura didn't answer.
Claire already knew.
Someone inside her company.
Someone who had access to confidential information.
Someone close enough to know her career trajectory.
Claire returned to the mansion that night.
Ethan was waiting.
“You disappeared.”
“I had work.”
“You're lying.”
Claire looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You think you're smarter than me.”
Claire smiled.
“No.”
“I know you're hiding something.”
“So are you.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
Claire walked past him.
“You should ask your father.”
She went upstairs.
Ethan immediately called Richard.
“What did she find?”
Richard answered after a long pause.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Richard sighed.
“Then perhaps you should ask Daniel.”
Ethan went silent.
“Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“What does he have to do with this?”
Richard hung up.
Ethan stared at the phone.
He hadn't spoken to Daniel in years.
Yet suddenly his brother was the only name everyone seemed afraid to mention.
And somewhere across town, Daniel Mercer was opening an old file.
Inside was a photograph of Claire.
On the back was written:
If she ever discovers the truth, give her the blue ledger.
May you like
Daniel stared at it.
Then he reached for the phone.
