Chapter 6 - The Bride’s Version
Claire asked to speak privately.
Daniel refused.
Not because he wanted to humiliate her.
Because private was where every important fact seemed to change.
They sat in the lounge with Robert, Margaret, Emma, and both attorneys on speakerphone.
Claire finally spoke.
“Brightwell was temporary.”
Daniel laughed once.
“Six hundred thousand dollars is temporary?”
“We were going to put it back.”
“We?”
Claire’s eyes flicked toward Grant.
She explained that her father’s commercial real estate company had collapsed after two major tenants defaulted.
Grant borrowed money to keep employees paid.
At first, she used her own savings.
Then CB Holdings.
Then foundation money.
“You stole donations for sick kids to save your father’s company?”
Stephen Bennett looked devastated.
“I didn’t know where the money came from.”
Grant snapped:
“You knew we were broke.”
“I did not know you were stealing.”
Claire’s voice rose.
“We weren’t stealing. We were borrowing.”
Emma said:
“Without authorization. Using forged approvals.”
Claire ignored her.
“The property sale closes next month. Every dollar would have gone back.”
Margaret finally spoke.
“Except I found it.”
Claire looked at her.
“Yes.”
Daniel heard it.
“You sent my mother away because she found the transfers.”
“I sent her somewhere quiet because she was panicking.”
Margaret’s hands tightened.
“You told me my son was ashamed of me.”
Claire’s face flickered.
“I was trying to keep the wedding from exploding.”
Daniel stared at her white dress.
“You protected the wedding by locking my mother out of it.”
“I did not lock her anywhere.”
“No. You just took her phone and left her miles from town.”
Claire looked at Grant.
Daniel caught it.
“What?”
“I’m done.”
Robert blocked him.
“Sit down.”
Grant’s face hardened.
Then Emma said:
“There’s another problem.”
She had found an electronic approval on the largest transfer.
Not Margaret’s signature.
For $300,000.
He had never approved it.
Claire whispered:
“Daniel—”
May you like
He looked at her.
“How many of my signatures did you forge?”
