Chapter 1 - The Envelope
I did not answer his question about the company.
Instead, I reached into my leather purse.
My fingers brushed against the thick manila envelope I had been carrying for three days.
I pulled it out and placed it gently on the pristine tablecloth directly beside Margaret’s plate.
The heavy thud of the paper seemed to echo in the silent dining room.
Margaret looked down at it, her satisfied smile faltering just a fraction of an inch.
"What is this nonsense, Claire?" she asked.
Her voice was as cold and sharp as the silver butter knife resting near her hand.
"Open it," I said.
My voice was terrifyingly calm, even as the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth.
Ethan took a step toward me, his face still flushed with rage.
"Don't you dare give my mother orders in her own house," he snapped.
I didn't even look at him.
I kept my eyes locked entirely on Margaret.
She picked up the envelope with perfectly manicured fingers.
She broke the seal and pulled out the stack of financial documents.
Her eyes scanned the first page, and I watched the color completely drain from her elegant face.
The company listed on my loan application wasn't just a random shell corporation.
It was an offshore account registered entirely in Ethan’s name.
He had been secretly bleeding his mother’s trust fund dry for years.
"Ethan," Margaret whispered, her voice trembling.
Before she could read the next page, heavy pounding echoed from the front door.
A booming voice shattered the tense silence of the dining room.
"Police, open up!" the voice shouted.
I smiled at Margaret, but my victory was instantly cut short.
The front doors burst open, and three armed officers stormed into the room.
They didn't look at Ethan or Margaret.
May you like
The lead detective marched straight toward me and pulled out a pair of steel handcuffs.
"Claire Cole, you are under arrest for the embezzlement of four million dollars."
