Chapter 1 - THE TITLE
Claire Mercer was already on the patio floor when Daniel kicked her again.
“Apologize to my sister!”
She curled tighter, both forearms over her head.
The second kick landed against her guarded shoulder.
Ashley stepped forward.
“You should’ve just given me the car!”
Then she shoved Claire back down with her foot.
Robert Mercer stood beside the grill.
Frozen.
Claire heard him say:
“Daniel, enough.”
Too quiet.
Too late.
Ashley kicked toward Claire’s side again.
Claire caught Ashley’s ankle.
Shoved it away.
Then forced herself upright.
Her breath came hard.
Her cheek was flushed.
Her shoulder hurt.
But her eyes had changed.
She backed away.
Reached into the leather handbag she had carried onto the patio.
Daniel laughed.
“What now?”
Claire pulled out a thick stack of papers.
She slammed them onto the patio table.
“You just made this very easy.”
Daniel reached.
Claire jerked the papers away.
Then held up the Lexus title.
Owner:
Claire Mercer.
Only Claire Mercer.
“The car was never yours.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Ashley stopped smiling.
Claire pulled out another document.
Their signed postnuptial agreement.
She threw it against Daniel’s chest.
“And you sent her money again.”
Daniel looked down.
Robert lowered his drink.
Claire removed her wedding ring.
Dropped it on top of the papers.
Then lifted her keys.
“Let her pay for you now.”
She turned toward the Lexus.
Daniel shouted:
“Claire, don’t you dare leave!”
She stopped.
Looked back.
“You just kicked me while I was on the ground.”
Silence.
Then:
“You don’t get to tell me what I dare.”
Claire walked away.
Behind her, Robert finally looked at the papers.
A bank statement sat on top.
Three transfers.
$8,500.
$12,000.
$17,500.
Recipient:
Ashley Mercer.
Robert whispered:
May you like
“Daniel… what did you do?”
And for the first time that afternoon, Daniel looked afraid of his father.
