Chapter 9 - Daniel at the Door
Daniel rang the bell again.
Marcus held up a hand.
“No one speaks unless you choose to.”
Claire looked at the screen.
Daniel appeared calm.
Almost professional.
He had no idea Marcus was inside.
Claire decided.
“Open it.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
He opened the door but stayed slightly behind it.
Daniel smiled when he saw Claire.
“Good afternoon.”
Claire said nothing.
His smile weakened when Megan appeared behind her.
Then disappeared when he noticed Marcus.
“Who are you?”
Marcus answered.
“Friend of the family.”
Daniel looked toward Claire.
“I came to discuss a misunderstanding.”
Claire folded her arms.
“Which one?”
Daniel hesitated.
“The property paperwork.”
“The one with my signature already on it?”
His eyes flickered.
“It was a sample.”
“So Linda said.”
Daniel glanced past her.
“Is Ethan here?”
“No.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
Daniel adjusted his briefcase.
“Then maybe we should schedule another time.”
Claire stepped aside.
“You came here.”
He looked suspicious.
“Yes.”
“So talk.”
Daniel entered slowly.
Marcus closed the door.
Claire remained standing.
Daniel did too.
“There has been confusion regarding a business loan.”
“There has.”
“The bank needs confirmation of certain marital property interests.”
Claire stared.
“I inherited this house before marriage.”
“I understand.”
“Then there are no marital property interests for Ethan to confirm.”
Daniel smiled thinly.
“That depends on contributions.”
Claire remembered the fabricated three-hundred-thousand-dollar claim.
“You mean the money Ethan never contributed?”
Daniel’s expression barely changed.
“I’m not here to debate facts.”
Claire laughed.
“That may be the most revealing thing you’ve said.”
Megan looked away to hide a nervous smile.
Daniel’s tone hardened.
“Claire, this situation can be resolved quietly.”
“How?”
“You confirm that Ethan has an equitable interest.”
“He doesn’t.”
“You allow the loan restructuring.”
“No.”
“And everyone moves forward.”
“No.”
Daniel sighed.
“Richard could lose the company.”
“That isn’t my responsibility.”
“Ethan could be personally exposed.”
Claire’s heart tightened.
That was the pressure point.
Daniel knew it.
“You care about your husband.”
Claire looked him in the eye.
“My husband walked out this morning because you convinced him I was planning to take our child.”
Daniel showed no surprise.
That told Claire enough.
“You did know.”
“I advised Ethan based on information I was given.”
“You are not an attorney.”
“I never said I was.”
“Ethan says you did.”
Daniel shrugged.
“That would be his interpretation.”
Marcus spoke for the first time.
“Interesting.”
Daniel looked annoyed.
Claire continued.
“Why did you enter my house last Tuesday?”
Daniel froze.
Only for half a second.
But Marcus saw it.
Megan saw it.
Claire saw it.
“I didn’t.”
Claire lifted her phone.
The doorbell footage played.
Daniel watched himself entering.
His face hardened.
“Linda said she had permission.”
“She didn’t.”
“That is between you and Linda.”
“What did you leave in my nursery?”
Daniel’s eyes moved toward the hallway.
There.
That tiny glance.
Marcus stepped forward.
Daniel realized too late what he had done.
Claire spoke quietly.
“We found it.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
When he opened them, the polite expression was gone.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
Claire felt fear.
But anger stood in front of it.
“Then explain it.”
Daniel picked up his briefcase.
“I’m leaving.”
Marcus opened the door.
Daniel paused beside Claire.
His voice dropped.
“Tomorrow’s appointment will happen with or without you.”
Claire stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel smiled without warmth.
“You should ask your husband.”
He walked out.
Megan immediately turned to Claire.
“Ethan?”
Claire already had her phone in her hand.
She called him.
He answered instantly.
“Claire?”
She did not soften her voice.
“Why does Daniel think you’ll be at a bank tomorrow?”
Silence.
“Ethan.”
He finally answered.
“Because until this morning, I was planning to go.”
Claire’s stomach dropped.
“And what were you going to sign?”
Ethan breathed in slowly.
May you like
“A statement saying we were already separated.”
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