She entered through the front door.
She stopped when she saw me.
We stared at each other.
I had spent years seeing Chloe as competition.
For Samuel’s attention.
For influence.
For family authority.
Now she looked exhausted.
Dark circles beneath her eyes.
A folder beneath one arm.
No makeup.
No affair.
No betrayal.
Just a woman carrying a secret too heavy for one person.
I stood.
“I’m sorry.”
She laughed softly.
“That’s new.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“I saw you yesterday.”
“With Elliot?”
“Yes.”
“He’s my attorney.”
“I know.”
She set the folder on the table.
“What did Walter tell you?”
“Enough.”
“Probably not.”
That scared me.
She opened the folder.
Bank statements.
Loan documents.
Credit reports.
Emails.
She placed one page in front of me.
Samuel Lawson.
Personal guarantee.
Signature.
Forged.
My throat tightened.
Then another.
Business credit line.
Eighty-five thousand.
Another.
Equipment lease.
Forty thousand.
