Chapter 12 - THE SISTER WHO GAVE HIM BACK
Natalie returned to Chicago.
No wedding ring.
No Ethan.
She met Claire at their mother’s grave.
Strange choice.
Maybe appropriate.
Natalie held the sapphire ring Margaret left her.
“I hated this.”
Claire looked at it.
“I know.”
“I thought she gave you the better everything.”
“She did favor me at work.”
Natalie looked surprised.
Claire continued.
“She shouldn’t have made you feel stupid because you were social.”
Natalie’s eyes filled.
“Why didn’t you ever say that?”
“Because I liked being the one she trusted.”
There.
Claire’s guilt.
Small compared to betrayal.
Still real.
Natalie wiped her face.
“Ethan made me feel chosen.”
Claire nodded.
“And I liked that he chose me over you.”
There.
The ugliest truth.
Claire looked at her sister.
“Thank you for saying it.”
Natalie laughed bitterly.
“You’re not forgiving me.”
“No.”
Fair.
Natalie handed Claire a drive.
“What is it?”
“Ethan’s Meridian emails.”
Claire went still.
“Why do you have them?”
“He gave me access.”
“Why give them to me?”
Natalie looked at the grave.
“Because he told me I was his partner.”
Then:
May you like
“I read the prenup.”
Good enough.
