Chapter 6 - The Sixty-Three Thousand Dollar Secret
Ethan knew more than he admitted.
Two days before the family meeting, Richard had asked him to help access Claire’s secondary banking account.
Richard claimed Claire had agreed to finance Ethan’s company but wanted the transfer completed privately.
Ethan had believed him because he wanted the money.
Together, they attempted to raise the transfer limit. When that failed, Richard tried moving sixty-three thousand dollars, the maximum amount he believed would avoid additional verification.
The transfer did not succeed.
Richard told Ethan never to mention it.
After Claire canceled the family payments, Ethan understood the danger. The bank would have records. Claire’s security system might identify the device. Messages between him and Richard could reveal their intentions.
Ethan wanted to confess, but he was terrified of losing his parents’ approval.
Richard had always treated him like the family’s future.
Claire was the dependable one, the person expected to solve problems without recognition.
Ethan was the one praised for possibilities.
That arrangement had protected him from responsibility.
Now it threatened to destroy him.
When Diane demanded that Claire come to the house and restore the payments, Ethan almost objected.
Instead, he remained quiet.
They gathered in the living room on a bright Thursday morning.
Diane prepared an angry speech.
Richard insisted Claire would surrender once confronted.
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Ethan stood near the staircase, feeling as though the walls were closing around him.
Then Claire arrived wearing a burgundy dress, holding the phone that contained everything.
