Chapter 4 - BIRTHDAY CANDLES
Brooke’s face went white.
Claire looked at her sister.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Brooke’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
“Tell me Ethan isn’t Julian’s son.”
Diane grabbed Claire’s wrist.
“Not here.”
Claire pulled free.
“That seems to be everyone’s favorite sentence.”
Brooke stepped forward.
“Claire, please.”
“How long?”
Brooke started crying.
Claire felt nothing.
“How long?”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Brooke wiped her face.
“Twelve years.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“So while I was picking out nursery furniture for you—”
“Stop.”
“While I paid your rent because you told me the baby’s father disappeared—”
“I said stop.”
“While my husband was holding my hand and telling me how lucky we were to have family close—”
Brooke snapped.
“I was alone!”
Claire stared at her.
Brooke instantly looked ashamed.
But the words were already there.
Claire stepped closer.
“You were alone?”
“I didn’t mean—”
“My husband was sleeping with you.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then explain what it was like.”
Diane moved between them.
“Both of you stop.”
Claire turned on her mother.
“You don’t get to referee a fire you helped hide.”
The ballroom doors opened.
Robert Bennett appeared.
“What’s going on?”
Claire looked at her father.
“Ask your wife.”
Robert’s eyes shifted toward Diane.
Then Brooke.
Then Claire.
And Claire watched the exact moment he understood.
His shoulders dropped.
He knew too.
Of course he did.
Claire laughed again.
“My entire family.”
Robert lowered his voice.
“We can discuss this privately.”
“I saw the documents.”
That changed him.
“What documents?”
“The transfer agreement.”
Robert’s jaw tightened.
“And the loan.”
Brooke looked at Julian, who had now appeared behind Robert.
Julian stopped cold.
Claire smiled.
“There he is.”
Julian walked toward her.
“Claire, give me your phone.”
She almost couldn’t believe the nerve.
“What?”
“You’re upset.”
“So I should hand you my phone?”
“Those files are confidential business documents.”
“They have my forged signature on them.”
Several nearby guests turned.
Robert grabbed Claire’s elbow.
“Enough.”
Claire jerked away.
“Don’t touch me.”
Julian whispered, “We can fix this.”
Claire looked at him.
“Which part?”
He said nothing.
“The affair?”
Silence.
“The twelve-year-old son?”
Brooke covered her mouth.
Claire continued.
“Or the six-million-dollar loan you secured with property you don’t own?”
Julian’s expression hardened.
For the first time that night, the charming husband disappeared.
“Lower your voice.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No.”
Guests were watching now.
Murmuring.
Her birthday cake glowed behind them.
Thirty-nine candles.
Claire walked toward it.
She picked up the microphone from the DJ stand.
Julian moved after her.
“Claire, don’t.”
She looked over the room.
Friends.
Employees.
Investors.
Family.
Then she blew out every candle.
“I made a wish,” she said.
People laughed nervously.
Claire looked directly at Julian.
“I wished for the truth.”
Her phone rang.
Maya.
Claire answered.
“Maya?”
Her attorney didn’t say hello.
“Claire, get somewhere private.”
Claire’s heartbeat accelerated.
“I am.”
“No, you’re not understanding me.”
Maya’s voice sounded genuinely frightened.
“I searched the filing numbers on those documents.”
Claire looked at Julian.
“What did you find?”
“The loan isn’t the biggest problem.”
Claire’s hand tightened around the phone.
“What is?”
Maya took one breath.
“There is already a lien against your house.”
Claire froze.
“And Claire?”
May you like
“Yes?”
“They filed a petition this morning declaring you mentally incompetent to manage your business interests.”
