Chapter 4
Daniel came to Harlow House two days later.
He arrived without warning.
I saw his black car through the front window and felt my stomach tighten.
Old instincts rose inside me.
The instinct to calm him.
To explain myself.
To make sure he was not angry.
Then I remembered the ballroom.
I remembered champagne dripping from my hair while he smiled.
I did not open the door.
He rang the bell for ten minutes.
Then he began pounding.
“Claire, I know you’re in there.”
I called security.
Not police.
Not yet.
The estate had private security because my grandfather’s home contained archives, artwork, and old family records.
Two guards met Daniel at the gate.
He shouted my name as they escorted him away.
Later that evening, Vanessa called.
I considered ignoring her.
Then I answered.
Her voice was trembling.
“I didn’t know you owned part of the company.”
I laughed softly.
“That is what you’re worried about?”
“No. I mean—I didn’t know Daniel was doing those things.”
“You knew he was married.”
Vanessa breathed in sharply.
“He told me you had an arrangement.”
“He told you what made you comfortable enough to stay.”
She was quiet for a long time.
Then she said, “He used my brother’s firm without telling me.”
I sat up.
“What?”
Vanessa explained that Daniel had asked to use her brother’s consulting company for “temporary logistics work.” Her brother needed money and did not ask questions.
But now investigators were questioning him.
“Daniel said it was all approved,” Vanessa whispered.
“Your brother needs a lawyer,” I said. “And he needs to tell the truth.”
Vanessa began crying.
I did not comfort her.
I had spent too long comforting people who had hurt me.
But I did give her Eleanor’s number.
The next day, Vanessa’s brother turned over records that confirmed Daniel had created fake invoices.
The affair was ugly.
May you like
The fraud was worse.
And Daniel’s life was collapsing because he had built it on lies.
