Chapter 4 - the night ethan lied)
Claire chased Ethan into the street.
He was already inside his car.
She pounded on the passenger window.
“Give it back.”
Ethan lowered the glass two inches.
“Go inside.”
“That belongs to me.”
“It belongs to whoever is manipulating you.”
“What are you afraid I’ll find?”
His eyes hardened.
“I’m afraid you’ll destroy your life because some anonymous coward knows exactly which wound to press.”
“Where were you the night Dad died?”
Silence.
Claire watched his face.
For the first time, Ethan did not have an immediate answer.
Then he looked away.
“At home.”
“With whom?”
“My mother.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Of course.”
He started the engine.
Claire stepped in front of the car.
“Move.”
“Give me the envelope.”
“Move, Claire.”
“No.”
Ethan opened the driver’s door and climbed out.
He was larger than her by nearly a foot.
On any previous day, Claire might have stepped away.
She did not.
“Were you at the marina?”
“No.”
“Did you know your mother was?”
A flicker.
Enough.
“You knew.”
“I knew she met your father.”
“On his boat?”
“I don’t know where.”
“You just stole evidence from me.”
“It isn’t evidence.”
“Then give it back.”
He leaned close.
“You need to stop.”
There was no affection in his face now.
No apology.
No charm.
“You are two weeks away from becoming my wife.”
Claire stared at him.
“And?”
“And you are behaving like an enemy.”
The sentence stayed with her long after he drove away.
Not a partner.
Not someone frightened for her.
An enemy.
Claire returned inside and immediately called Reyes.
He wanted to report the theft.
Claire refused.
Not yet.
“If Ethan knows we’re investigating, he’ll destroy whatever is left.”
“He already knows something.”
“Not everything.”
Reyes sounded frustrated.
“You’re taking a serious risk.”
“So help me reduce it.”
They agreed Claire would behave as if the argument had been resolved.
She would continue wedding preparations.
She would not confront Vivian.
She would document everything.
And she would never be alone with Ethan without telling someone where she was.
That afternoon, Ethan texted.
I’m sorry.
Then:
Dinner tonight?
Claire stared at the screen.
Every instinct told her to refuse.
Instead she replied.
Yes.
They met at Bellini, the restaurant where Ethan had proposed.
He arrived with flowers again.
Claire almost admired the pattern.
Hurt.
Apologize.
Charm.
Reset.
The cycle worked because each version of Ethan made the previous one feel temporary.
Now Claire understood the temporary version was the kindness.
He ordered her favorite wine.
“I overreacted.”
“So did I.”
He studied her.
“You scared me with the questions about your father.”
“Why?”
“Because I know how much you miss him.”
Claire lowered her eyes.
“I’ve been spiraling.”
“You have.”
She hated how quickly he accepted that explanation.
She touched his hand.
“Tell me what happened between you and Dad.”
Ethan sighed.
“He thought I was wrong for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a Blackwood.”
“He never cared about family names.”
“He cared about mine.”
Claire waited.
Ethan drank.
“Your father came to see my mother about something involving an old employee.”
“Laura Bennett?”
The glass stopped halfway to Ethan’s mouth.
Claire instantly knew she had made a mistake.
Too fast.
Too specific.
Ethan lowered the glass.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Dad mentioned her once.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
“Claire.”
She smiled faintly.
“What?”
“Don’t lie to me.”
She felt her pulse quicken.
“You lie to me.”
His expression hardened.
Then the charming mask returned.
“Fair.”
He leaned back.
“Laura worked for us. She stole money.”
“Articles say she resigned.”
“The family kept it quiet.”
“And then she died.”
“Yes.”
“My father knew her.”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire watched him.
“Were you with Vivian the night Dad died?”
“Yes.”
“Entire night?”
His eyes held hers.
“Yes.”
Claire already had the answer.
Reyes had obtained traffic camera footage.
Ethan’s car had crossed the Harbor Bridge at 1:07 a.m.
The marina was on the other side.
Thomas Morgan’s estimated time of death was between 1:30 and 3:00.
Claire forced herself not to react.
“Okay.”
Ethan smiled.
Relief.
He believed her.
After dinner he walked her home.
At the door, he kissed her.
Claire allowed it.
His hand slid behind her neck.
For a second, she felt the old familiarity.
Then he whispered against her ear.
“Don’t ever go through my family’s past again.”
Claire went still.
Ethan smiled and walked away.
She closed the door.
Then locked it.
Inside, the burner phone was flashing.
One new message.
He lied about the night Thomas died.
Claire replied.
I know.
A response appeared.
Good.
Tomorrow, 2 p.m. Bellmont Hotel. Room 814.
Claire stared.
That room again.
She typed.
Will Laura be there?
The answer came after a full minute.
May you like
No.
Because if Laura appears before the wedding, Vivian will kill her.
