Chapter 12 - Derek Finally Said What He Was Protecting
Claire agreed to meet Derek with both attorneys present.
He looked exhausted.
The polished executive confidence was gone.
For once, Vanessa was nowhere near him.
Claire began simply.
“Why did you let her treat Sophie that way?”
Derek rubbed both hands over his face.
“The dress happened at the worst possible moment.”
Claire stared at him.
“That’s your answer?”
“No.”
“Then try again.”
He looked down.
“Vanessa told me Sophie heard us.”
“And?”
“I panicked.”
“So you helped make your daughter look like a liar.”
“I didn’t plan it like that.”
“You called her useless.”
Derek’s eyes closed.
Claire did not rescue him from the silence.
Eventually he said, “I needed the sale.”
“Why?”
“I’d personally guaranteed debt.”
Claire frowned.
She had not known that.
Derek explained that after two bad projects, he had borrowed against personal assets to keep Halston operating.
If the acquisition failed, he could lose his stake, savings, and possibly the house.
Vanessa knew.
She had encouraged the aggressive borrowing because the sale would solve everything.
Claire finally understood Derek’s deepest fear.
Not poverty.
Failure.
He had built his identity around being the successful husband, owner, provider.
Admitting the company was collapsing meant admitting the man everyone admired had lost control.
“So you protected the image,” Claire said.
Derek looked at her.
May you like
“And sacrificed us.”
He did not deny it.
