Chapter 3 - Chloe Bennett)
When Chloe first met Elena, she thought she was looking at a woman who had come to make a scene.
She was wrong.
Elena did not raise her voice.
She did not cry.
She did not insult Chloe.
That made Chloe more uncomfortable than anger would have.
After the plane reached cruising altitude, Chloe finally whispered, "Can I ask you something?"
Elena looked at her.
"Of course."
"Did you know?"
"About you?"
Chloe nodded.
"No."
Elena looked across the aisle at Julian.
He was pretending to sleep.
"But I know now."
Chloe lowered her voice.
"I didn't know he was still married."
Elena studied her.
"You believed him?"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?"
Chloe swallowed.
"He said the divorce was almost finished."
Elena said nothing.
Chloe looked toward Julian.
"He told me you were controlling. That you refused to let him leave. That you were keeping his money."
Elena almost smiled.
"My money."
Chloe looked confused.
"That's what I mean."
Elena opened the folder.
"Julian has been telling different stories to different people."
Chloe looked at the documents.
"What is all this?"
"Proof."
"Proof of what?"
Elena leaned closer.
"That neither of us knows the real man."
Chloe looked terrified.
Julian opened his eyes.
"Enough."
Elena turned toward him.
"Then tell her."
He said nothing.
"Tell her why you transferred money from my father's trust."
Julian's face changed.
Chloe looked at him.
"Your father's trust?"
Julian stood.
"We're not discussing this here."
Elena remained seated.
"You should sit down."
"Elena."
"You have no idea what happens if you leave your seat."
Julian froze.
A flight attendant approached.
"Sir, please remain seated."
Julian slowly sat.
Chloe looked at Elena.
"What is in that folder?"
Elena closed it.
"Something Julian was desperate to find."
"What?"
"My father's final letter."
Julian stared at her.
May you like
His expression told Elena everything.
He had never expected her to find it.
