Chapter 11 - The Twist Hurt More Than Claire Expected
Peterson suspended Derek from financial decisions pending an internal review.
Vanessa’s consulting access was terminated.
She immediately threatened to sue the company.
Derek blamed Claire.
Then Peterson.
Then Maya.
Eventually he ran out of people.
But Claire did not feel victorious.
The company employed twenty-three people.
Payroll became tight.
Projects were delayed.
People who had nothing to do with Derek’s choices worried about mortgages and health insurance.
Claire had wanted accountability.
She had not fully considered how many innocent people were standing underneath Derek when the structure fell.
Maya called her late one afternoon.
“You did the right thing.”
“That doesn’t pay their salaries.”
“No.”
Claire appreciated that Maya did not pretend consequences were painless.
Meanwhile Sophie began having stomachaches before school.
Her pediatrician found no physical cause.
A child therapist helped Sophie put words to what happened.
“I thought Dad hated me because I broke the dress.”
Claire nearly cried when she heard that.
Derek had finally requested supervised visits.
Sophie refused the first one.
Claire did not force her.
Nor did she tell Sophie she never had to see him again.
That decision belonged to time, therapy, and Sophie’s safety.
The truth had protected Claire legally.
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It had not repaired what Derek had done to his daughter.
That required something evidence could not provide.
