Chapter 10 - Ethan Had Lied to Both of Them
The email was not secret.
Claire had simply never been included.
Six weeks earlier, Ethan had written to his CFO about the Tuesday financing.
Once the Claire guarantee is closed, stabilize cash through Q1. Monica will be out of the house before the baby comes. I don't want any more personal complications.
Claire read it twice.
Monica was never part of Ethan’s future plan.
At least not anymore.
Three earlier details snapped into place.
Ethan had kept Monica employed because she threatened disclosure.
He had repeatedly postponed leaving Claire because he had never actually intended to leave.
And Tuesday mattered because once Claire guaranteed the loan, Ethan no longer needed Monica’s silence badly enough to keep her close.
He had been deceiving both women for different reasons.
Claire for money, stability, and the life he wanted to preserve.
Monica because admitting the affair was over might expose him before Claire signed.
When Claire confronted him, Ethan did not deny the email.
“I was going to fire her after Tuesday.”
“And tell me?”
He sat across from Claire in Caroline’s conference room.
“Yes.”
“When?”
He had no answer.
Claire understood then that Ethan's plan had never been as cinematic as Monica imagined.
He had not plotted Claire's death.
He had not ordered the push.
His betrayal was more ordinary.
And somehow more believable.
He had intended to secure Claire’s financial support, remove Monica from the house, confess only as much as necessary, and persuade Claire that preserving their family was the responsible choice.
May you like
He had counted on Claire doing what she always did.
Absorbing the damage.
