The Woman Everyone Blamed
Chapter 04 - The Woman Everyone Blamed
By noon, the story had already changed.
Claire was no longer the daughter-in-law who had been offered money to disappear.
According to an anonymous source quoted by a local business website, she was a "disgruntled spouse" attempting to seize control of her husband's family company.
Claire read the article twice.
Someone had leaked confidential information.
Someone who knew exactly how to make her look greedy.
Ethan called his mother repeatedly.
No answer.
By evening, photographers were waiting outside the penthouse.
Claire stood behind the curtains.
"I can't stay here."
Ethan looked exhausted.
"This is your home."
"Your mother just told half of Chicago I'm stealing your inheritance."
"We'll correct it."
"How?"
Ethan didn't have an answer.
Claire packed a small suitcase.
She stayed with her older sister, Nora, in a modest house outside the city.
For three days, Claire ignored reporters.
On the fourth morning, someone knocked.
It wasn't Ethan.
It was Daniel Mercer, the chief financial officer of Cross Development.
He looked nervous.
"I shouldn't be here."
Claire didn't invite him inside.
"Then why are you?"
Daniel glanced toward the street.
"Because Vivian didn't steal the money."
Claire stared at him.
"Then who did?"
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Arthur did."
Nothing made sense anymore.
Daniel explained that several years earlier, Arthur had begun moving company money into a separate investment structure.
Not to enrich himself.
To protect it.
"Protect it from what?"
"From a collapse."
Daniel handed Claire a small flash drive.
"The company has been hiding losses for years."
Claire felt cold.
"Ethan knows?"
"I don't think so."
"You don't think?"
"Vivian controlled what he saw."
Claire remembered every time Ethan had worked late.
Every canceled vacation.
Every tense phone call he refused to explain.
"How bad is it?"
Daniel looked at her.
"If nothing changes, Cross Development could be bankrupt within six months."
Claire tightened her grip on the flash drive.
"And the building Grandfather left me?"
"It's the only major asset that isn't buried under debt."
Now everything became clear.
Vivian didn't simply need Claire out of the family.
She needed the building back.
"Why are you telling me?"
Daniel's expression softened.
"Because Arthur made me promise."
"Promise what?"
"That when the family finally turned against you, I would tell you the truth."
Before Claire could ask another question, Daniel looked past her.
A black car had stopped across the street.
His face drained of color.
"I have to go."
He walked quickly toward his car.
Claire watched him leave.
Then her phone rang.
Ethan.
She answered.
His voice was barely recognizable.
"Claire, where are you?"
"At Nora's."
"Stay inside."
"Why?"
There was a long silence.
"My mother just went to the police."
Claire's heart began pounding.
"About what?"
May you like
Ethan exhaled.
"She's accusing you of stealing three million dollars."
