Chapter 10 - MARJORIE’S VERSION
Marjorie closed the door behind her.
Grant stood.
“Mother—”
“Sit down.”
He did.
Claire noticed.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Marjorie still had power over him.
She looked at Claire.
“You want a confession.”
“I want the truth.”
“No. You want something simple enough to hate.”
Marjorie poured herself a drink.
“Your father was not a saint.”
“He didn’t steal thirty-eight million dollars.”
“No. He destroyed people more elegantly.”
Claire said nothing.
Marjorie continued.
“Henry was guilty. I know that now. But Daniel did not merely report him. He timed the disclosure to seize control of the company.”
Claire frowned.
“That’s a lie.”
“Check the board records.”
Grant looked uncomfortable.
Marjorie smiled.
“Daniel became chairman three weeks after Henry’s indictment.”
Claire’s certainty cracked slightly.
Marjorie saw it.
“He told himself he was protecting the company. Men like Daniel always find moral language for ambition.”
“You hated him.”
“Yes.”
The answer came proudly.
“He took Henry’s reputation, my marriage, my security, and eventually my daughter.”
“Camille?”
“When Daniel discovered she was his, he wanted her to testify against me.”
“He wanted to free her from your blackmail.”
Marjorie laughed softly.
“Is that what Camille told you?”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
Marjorie stepped closer.
“Ask your sister why her fingerprints were on the brake-line cutter.”
Claire stared.
Grant stood abruptly.
“What?”
Marjorie looked at him.
“Oh, Grant. You really know so little.”
She turned back to Claire.
“Camille damaged Daniel’s brakes.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“She wanted to scare him. Make him miss his meeting with investigators. She says she never intended the line to fail completely.”
Claire thought of Camille at the bar.
Her careful words.
I saw the brakes fail.
Not: I didn’t cause it.
Marjorie continued.
“When Camille realized what had happened, she called me.”
“Then you covered it up.”
“I protected my daughter.”
Claire’s voice shook.
“And my father died.”
“Yes.”
For the first time, Marjorie’s face showed something complicated.
Not remorse.
But pain.
“I spent thirty-two years believing Daniel abandoned my child. When I learned he never knew, I had a choice. Forgive him or admit I had built my entire life around a lie.”
Claire stared.
“And you chose the lie.”
Marjorie smiled sadly.
“People rarely destroy themselves for money, Claire. They destroy themselves to avoid becoming someone they cannot live with.”
Grant stepped forward.
“You let me think Daniel caused everything.”
“I told you what you needed to believe.”
“You used me.”
“I raised you.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
For the first time, Marjorie’s calm slipped.
“Everything I did was for this family.”
Claire shook her head.
“No. Everything you did was so you could remain the victim.”
Marjorie’s eyes turned cold.
“Careful.”
“Or what?”
Marjorie smiled again.
“Or tomorrow morning, police will receive evidence that you paid Thomas Reed to fabricate documents against me.”
Claire froze.
May you like
Marjorie lifted her glass.
“And Thomas will confirm it.”
