Chapter 3 - The Divorce Papers on the Floor
Claire packed one suitcase.
She didn't need more.
The jewelry Adrian had bought her remained inside the safe.
The designer dresses remained in the closet.
Even her wedding ring stayed behind.
She placed it carefully on Adrian's pillow.
Then she changed clothes.
The pink satin pajamas went into a plastic bag.
Evidence.
The realization made her hands shake.
Claire sat on the edge of the bed.
For several minutes, she simply breathed.
Then someone knocked.
Not Adrian.
He never knocked.
“Claire?”
Vanessa.
Claire stood.
“What do you want?”
“We should talk.”
“No.”
“Please.”
That word sounded unnatural coming from Vanessa.
Claire opened the door but didn't invite her inside.
Vanessa had changed.
The smug mistress from downstairs was gone.
“You need to stop your father.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Why?”
“This is between you and Adrian.”
“You made yourself part of my marriage.”
Vanessa glanced toward the staircase.
“He doesn't know everything.”
“About what?”
Silence.
Claire studied her.
“The audit?”
Vanessa's face answered before her mouth did.
Claire stepped closer.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
“You think your father can destroy Adrian without destroying you too?”
“I don't care about his company.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Because your signature is on some of the documents.”
Claire's blood went cold.
“What documents?”
Vanessa smiled again.
But this smile was different.
Desperate.
“Ask your husband.”
Then she walked away.
Claire remained motionless.
Her signature?
She remembered dozens of documents Adrian had placed in front of her over the years.
Charity papers.
Insurance forms.
Household trusts.
Tax documents.
She had trusted him.
Suddenly her phone vibrated.
A message from her father.
Car outside. Come home. Do not sign anything. Do not speak to Adrian's lawyers.
Claire grabbed her suitcase.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Adrian was waiting.
“You're not leaving.”
Claire continued walking.
“Claire.”
She stopped.
“Vanessa says my signature is on company documents.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Only slightly.
Enough.
“What did you sign my name to?”
“Nothing.”
“Wrong answer.”
“They were routine documents.”
“Then why didn't I know about them?”
Adrian approached her.
“We're married. Our finances overlap.”
Claire stared at him.
“You forged my signature.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
The doorbell rang.
Adrian ignored it.
Claire walked toward the entrance.
He stepped into her path.
Then the door opened.
An older man in a charcoal suit entered with two attorneys and a security officer.
Adrian froze.
Claire hadn't seen her father in nearly three years.
Richard Beaumont looked older.
His hair had become more silver.
There were deeper lines around his eyes.
But the moment he saw Claire's face, he became perfectly still.
His gaze moved to the bruise.
Then to Adrian.
Claire had never seen her father look at another human being that way.
“Dad.”
Richard walked directly to her.
He didn't ask questions.
He embraced her.
And Claire, who had refused to break in front of Adrian, finally cried.
Her father's hand rested gently against the back of her head.
“I've got you.”
Adrian tried to speak.
“Mr. Beaumont—”
Richard didn't look at him.
“Don't.”
One word.
Adrian stopped.
Richard released Claire and handed her to the woman beside him.
“This is Margaret Ellis, our family attorney.”
Margaret smiled gently.
“Claire.”
Claire nodded.
Richard finally faced Adrian.
“You wanted a divorce?”
Adrian swallowed.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
Richard looked toward the papers still scattered on the floor.
“Your misunderstanding appears professionally prepared.”
Vanessa entered from the hallway.
Richard's gaze moved to her.
“And you must be Vanessa.”
She said nothing.
Richard looked at Claire.
“Ready?”
Claire nodded.
Adrian panicked.
“Claire, wait.”
She looked at him one last time.
“I waited three years.”
Then she walked through the front door with her father.
Outside, three black cars waited.
Claire climbed into the middle one.
Richard sat beside her.
As the mansion disappeared behind them, he took her hand.
“I should have come sooner.”
“No.”
“I knew he was wrong for you.”
“You warned me.”
“You were my daughter. Warning you wasn't enough.”
Claire leaned against the seat.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then she remembered Vanessa.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“The audit.”
“What about it?”
“Vanessa is afraid of it.”
Richard's eyes sharpened.
“She should be.”
Claire turned toward him.
“You know something.”
“We started reviewing Vale Meridian before I came to the house.”
“And?”
Richard looked through the window.
“Adrian has problems that have nothing to do with your marriage.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
“What kind of problems?”
Her father turned back.
“The kind that can put people in prison.”
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