Chapter 6 - A WIDOW'S HOUSE ON LAKE MICHIGAN
I had been divorced for eleven days when Ethan appeared at my condominium.
He looked terrible.
Which was satisfying.
Not that I was petty.
I simply appreciated justice when it arrived wearing an expensive suit and dark circles under its eyes.
I opened the door.
“Ethan.”
He stared at me.
“Claire.”
I leaned against the doorframe.
“What brings you here?”
He looked past me.
“Can I come in?”
I considered it.
Then stepped aside.
He entered.
Stopped.
And stared at the sofa.
“You took the sofa.”
“I did.”
“That sofa cost ninety thousand dollars.”
“I know. I negotiated very well.”
He looked at me.
For a moment, I saw the man I had married.
The man who laughed when I told him I loved his bank account.
The man who brought me soup when I had the flu.
The man who once stayed awake all night because I had a nightmare.
Then I remembered Vanessa.
And the divorce papers.
And the way he smiled when he announced he was going to be a father.
“What do you want?” I asked.
Ethan sat.
On my sofa.
Naturally.
“Vanessa lied.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“About what?”
He looked at me.
“The baby.”
I nodded.
“Congratulations on catching up.”
His jaw tightened.
“Claire.”
I sat opposite him.
“What?”
“How long did you know?”
“About the fertility results?”
“Yes.”
“Since the morning you told me you wanted a divorce.”
He stared.
“You could have told me.”
I laughed.
“I tried.”
“No, you didn't.”
I leaned forward.
“Ethan, you had your pregnant mistress sitting beside you while your attorney prepared my divorce settlement.”
He looked away.
I continued.
“You told me I couldn't give you a child.”
His face tightened.
“You told me Vanessa could.”
Silence.
Then I smiled.
“So I decided to let science explain the situation.”
Ethan rubbed his face.
“I made a mistake.”
I nodded.
“A very expensive one.”
He looked up.
“Claire, I need your help.”
I stared.
Then laughed.
“Oh, this should be good.”
He leaned forward.
“Someone is stealing from my companies.”
My smile faded.
“How much?”
“Eight million that I can prove.”
I thought of Adrian's documents.
Then looked at Ethan.
“Ethan.”
“Yes?”
“Before I answer, tell me something.”
He waited.
May you like
“Do you know a man named Daniel Russo?”
Ethan went completely still.
