Chapter 8: The Woman Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
I didn’t speak.
I couldn’t.
The woman on the phone waited.
Like she knew exactly how much damage her words had caused.
“My mother’s attorney is dead,” I repeated.
The woman sighed.
“I know what you were told.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Rebecca Collins.””
The name meant nothing.
But the fear on Ethan’s face meant everything.
Because when I looked at him, he had gone completely still.
He knew that name.
“Ethan?””
He didn’t answer.
That terrified me more than anything.
Rebecca continued.
“Claire, I have been trying to reach you for months.””
“Why?””
“Because your mother left instructions.””
“What instructions?””
A pause.
Then:
“If Ethan ever attempted to remove you from Carter International, I was supposed to contact you.””
I looked at my husband.
His face changed.
“Hang up,” Ethan said.
Everyone turned toward him.
I slowly lowered the phone.
“What did you say?””
“Claire, don’t listen to her.””
My eyes narrowed.
“You know her.””
“No.””
The lie came too quickly.
Victor stepped closer.
“Ethan.””
My husband ignored him.
“Claire, this woman is manipulating you.””
Rebecca’s voice came through the speaker.
“Ethan Carter.””
The room froze.
Because she had heard him.
“You still don’t know when to stop.””
Ethan grabbed the phone from my hand.
But I pulled it back.
“No.””
His eyes met mine.
“Claire.””
“No more.””
My voice shook.
“No more secrets.””
Rebecca spoke again.
“Claire, if you want the truth, you need to look at your father’s old office.””
I frowned.
“My father’s office was sold years ago.””
“No.””
Her answer was immediate.
“It wasn’t.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“Your father kept a private archive.””
Victor looked surprised.
“An archive?””
Rebecca continued.
“He knew one day someone might try to take control from you.””
I looked at Ethan.
My husband looked like he wanted to disappear.
“What’s in the archive?””
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“Who started this.””
The call ended.
I stood there staring at the phone.
Then I looked at Ethan.
“What did she mean?””
He didn’t respond.
“Ethan.””
He finally spoke.
“Claire, your father was paranoid.””
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful.””
Ethan looked at him.
“He was always worried someone would betray him.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
I looked at the letter.
“My mother knew.””
Ethan looked at me.
“Your mother was scared.””
“Because she knew you.””
His face tightened.
“That’s not fair.””
I laughed.
“Fair?””
I looked around the office.
“At what point did you worry about fair?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Victor’s phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“What happened?””
He turned the screen toward me.
A news alert was already spreading online.
*CARTER INTERNATIONAL CEO ACCUSED OF CORPORATE FRAUD AFTER BOARDROOM INCIDENT*
My heart sank.
“How did this get out?””
Victor looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked genuinely shocked.
“I didn’t release anything.””
“Then who did?””
No one answered.
Then Lauren appeared at the office door.
Her face was pale.
“I know.””
Everyone turned.
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“Why are you here?””
Lauren ignored him.
“I know who leaked it.””
Victor stepped toward her.
“Explain.””
She looked at me.
And for once, she didn’t look confident.
She looked scared.
“It was not me.””
I stared.
“Why should I believe you?””
“Because whoever did this wants both of us destroyed.””
Ethan’s face darkened.
“Lauren.””
She looked at him.
“You promised me I would have a place beside you.””
Silence.
Then she turned back to me.
“But you never told me the whole plan.””
My stomach tightened.
“What plan?””
Lauren swallowed.
“The plan was never just about removing you.””
I felt cold.
“What else?””
She looked at Ethan.
May you like
Then whispered:
“He was going to make sure you could never come back.””
