Chapter 12 - The Father-in-Law's War
Grant Holloway stopped pretending the next morning.
Halcyon Therapeutics issued a statement calling Amelia confused, Claire manipulative, and Ethan Vale engaged in “a hostile corporate conspiracy.”
Then Grant filed for an emergency guardianship over Amelia.
Claire stared at the court petition. “He tried to kill her, and now he wants legal control of her?”
Nora nodded. “If the court declares her incompetent and names his preferred guardian, he can restrict access.”
“Not happening.”
Ryan called while they prepared for the hearing.
Claire almost ignored him.
“Answer,” Ethan said. “He sounds scared lately.”
Ryan was whispering.
“Claire, Vanessa doesn’t know I’m calling.”
“That sentence has aged badly.”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Halcyon paid a security company the week your mother disappeared. Same company billed them yesterday in Vermont.”
Claire stood. “Send it.”
“I can’t. Grant monitors everything.”
“Then why are you helping me?”
Ryan’s voice cracked. “Because I finally realized Vanessa’s father doesn’t protect people. He owns them.”
Claire felt no sympathy, only tired recognition.
“Meet me in public.”
Ryan chose a hotel café near Copley Square.
He arrived twenty minutes late with a flash drive hidden in a sugar packet box.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“For which betrayal?”
“All of them.”
“That’s convenient.”
He lowered his eyes. “I did love you.”
Claire pushed the box into her purse. “Love that requires me to stay small so you can feel big isn’t love.”
Ryan flinched.
Outside, Ethan waited across the street with security.
Ryan glanced through the window. “Does he love you?”
Claire’s answer came too quickly. “That isn’t part of the contract.”
Ryan laughed sadly. “That wasn’t my question.”
A motorcycle roared past.
The café window shattered.
Ryan jerked backward.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Claire hit the floor as Ethan’s security rushed inside.
Ryan grabbed her wrist.
“The drive,” he gasped. “There’s a folder called MERCY.”
“Stay with me.”
His grip weakened.
“Claire… Grant knows who Ethan really married.”
May you like
She leaned closer.
Ryan whispered, “And he knows your marriage was fake.”
