Chapter 6 - The Implosion
They were devouring each other. The polished, wealthy facade they had paraded around the city for the last year was peeling away in wet, ugly strips right in front of me.
“I’ll testify that you forced me to sign those returns,” Ethan snarled at Madison, taking a threatening step toward her. “You think a judge is going to believe a woman who forged medical records and bought a baby with stolen charity money?”
“And who covered it up?” Madison fired back, her voice jagged with hysteria. “You were so desperate to get rid of Claire and get your hands on that trust fund, you practically begged me to find a way to push her out! Don’t act like you have a moral high ground. You’re a sterile, pathetic fraud, and the only reason you have a family is because of me!”
Ethan raised his hand as if to strike her.
“Do it,” I said sharply.
Ethan froze, his hand hovering in the air.
“Do it, Ethan,” I repeated, my voice echoing off the tile. “Hit her in front of a dozen hospital cameras and a senior physician. Give me one more piece of leverage to hand to the police.”
He slowly lowered his arm, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with tears of absolute defeat. He looked at me, his expression softening into a pathetic, desperate plea.
“Claire,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Please. You loved me once. Don’t do this. We can fix the charity. I can give you the house back. I’ll give you whatever you want. Just don't call your lawyer.”
I looked at the man I had spent six years of my life with. I looked at the woman who had held my hand in the waiting room while I wept over failed IVF cycles.
“I already did,” I said.
May you like
I turned my back on them and began walking down the corridor with Adrian. Behind me, the screams began again, echoing down the pristine halls as their lives burned to ash.
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