Chapter 6: Project Replacement
Nobody spoke.
The file name sat on the screen like a confession.
Project Replacement.
I stared at those words until they blurred.
“What is that?””
Ethan’s face was completely pale.
“Claire, listen to me.””
“No.””
My voice came out quieter than I expected.
“I have listened to you for twelve years.””
I pointed at the screen.
“Now I want to listen to the truth.””
Victor opened the file.
Inside were documents.
Emails.
Meeting notes.
Financial reports.
And a timeline.
A timeline that made my stomach turn.
The first entry was dated almost a year earlier.
Before the gala.
Before the bracelet.
Before I knew Lauren’s name.
*Phase One: Reduce Claire Carter’s involvement.*
My hands curled into fists.
Victor scrolled.
The next line appeared.
*Phase Two: Create circumstances for voluntary resignation.*
I looked at Ethan.
“You planned this for a year?””
“Claire—”
“You planned my disappearance for a year?””
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
But it sounded weak.
Victor continued reading.
“There are notes about transferring voting authority.””
He looked at Ethan.
“Your signature appears on several internal approvals.””
Ethan shook his head.
“I approved business restructuring.””
Victor looked back at the screen.
“This is not restructuring.””
He clicked another document.
“This is a strategy to remove a shareholder.””
I stepped away.
My chest hurt.
Not from the slap.
Not from Lauren.
From realizing how long I had been living beside someone who was preparing to destroy me.
A memory flashed through my mind.
Six months earlier.
Ethan sitting across from me at dinner.
“You seem stressed lately,” I had said.
He smiled.
“Just work.””
I had reached across the table and held his hand.
“Promise me you won’t let business change you.””
He kissed my fingers.
“I promise.””
I closed my eyes.
A promise from a man who was already breaking it.
Victor opened another file.
Then he stopped.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
He turned the laptop slightly.
“This email was sent from Lauren’s account.””
Lauren, standing near the door, immediately reacted.
“What?””
Victor read the message.
“‘Once Claire signs the final transfer, everything belongs to us.’”
The room went silent.
Lauren’s face changed.
“That’s not real.””
Victor looked at her.
“It came from your company email.””
“I was hacked.””
Ethan suddenly spoke.
“Enough.””
Everyone turned.
His voice was different.
No longer defensive.
Desperate.
“Claire, there are things you don’t understand.””
I looked at him.
“Then explain.””
He stepped closer.
“I was trying to protect the company.””
I stared.
“By stealing from me?””
“No.””
“By replacing me?””
His silence was answer enough.
I shook my head.
“You know what hurts the most?””
Ethan looked at me.
“I could have forgiven an affair.””
His face changed.
“I could have forgiven the bracelet.””
My voice cracked.
“But I can’t forgive you building an entire plan where I was the only person who didn’t know I was the enemy.””
For a moment, Ethan looked like he wanted to say something.
Then his phone rang.
He looked down.
His expression changed instantly.
Victor noticed.
“Who is it?””
Ethan didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
I saw the name on the screen.
A name I recognized.
His lawyer.
Ethan stepped away and answered.
“Hello?””
A pause.
Then his face lost all color.
“What do you mean she filed it?””
My heart started pounding.
Victor looked at me.
“What did he say?””
Ethan slowly lowered the phone.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then Ethan whispered:
“Someone filed a lawsuit against the company this morning.””
Victor frowned.
“Who?””
Ethan looked at me.
And for the first time all night…
He looked afraid of me.
“Your mother’s estate.””
I froze.
“My mother is dead.””
Ethan swallowed.
“I know.””
“Then how?””
He looked at the documents on the screen.
At the forged signature.
At the hidden files.
And then he said the words that changed everything.
“Because your mother knew this would happen.””
A cold silence filled the room.
Victor stepped closer.
“What are you talking about?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Claire…”
May you like
His voice broke.
“She left you a message.””
