Chapter 13 - The Table Turns
The Carter family gathered again that night.
This time there was no laughter.
No champagne.
No jokes.
Ethan entered carrying the folder.
His mother looked at him.
"What happened?"
Ethan placed the folder on the table.
"Everything we believed about Daniel is wrong."
His father opened the first page.
Then another.
His face became increasingly serious.
Margaret looked at Ethan.
"What did you do?"
"I don't know."
"You signed these."
"I know."
"You involved Claire."
"I didn't know what they were for."
His father closed his eyes.
"That won't matter."
Ethan looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Documents don't care what you knew."
Silence.
Then the front door opened.
Claire entered.
Daniel walked behind her.
Everyone stood.
Claire looked at the table.
The same table where she had been humiliated the night before.
The same chandelier.
The same expensive dinnerware.
But everything felt different now.
Ethan stepped toward her.
"Claire."
She stopped him.
"Don't."
He nodded.
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
"This ends tonight."
Ethan looked at him.
"What ends?"
"The part where you pretend this was accidental."
Ethan stared.
"I didn't do this."
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"I know."
Ethan looked confused.
"Then why are you destroying me?"
Daniel looked toward Claire.
"I'm not."
He turned back to Ethan.
"Someone else is."
A sound came from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Older.
Elegant.
Completely unknown to Claire.
Ethan recognized him.
His face changed instantly.
Daniel noticed.
"Interesting."
Claire looked between them.
"Who is he?"
Ethan said nothing.
May you like
The stranger smiled.
"I believe introductions are overdue."
