Chapter 7 - Monica's Version
Monica agreed to speak through her attorney.
The push had changed everything.
Whatever sympathy Claire might eventually feel for a woman Ethan had deceived could not erase what Monica had done on that landing.
But Claire needed to know what Ethan had told her.
The conversation happened by video, with attorneys present.
Monica looked nothing like the woman in the black uniform.
No makeup.
Hair loose.
A bruise along one shoulder from striking the wall.
Claire felt no satisfaction seeing it.
Monica spoke without apology.
“Ethan said your marriage was finished.”
Claire said nothing.
“He said you stayed together because of your mother’s properties. Then you got pregnant.”
Claire looked toward her attorney.
Monica continued.
“He told me you were signing the guarantee Tuesday. After that, he said he could finally separate without destroying the company.”
There it was.
The sequence.
Claire signs.
Ethan gets financing.
Then Ethan leaves.
According to Monica, Ethan had repeatedly postponed their supposed future.
After Christmas.
After one project closed.
After Claire became pregnant.
After Tuesday.
Monica had finally realized she was being used.
“Why did you push me?”
For the first time, Monica's confidence disappeared.
“I saw him touch your stomach that morning.”
Claire waited.
“He had told me the baby changed nothing.”
Monica looked down.
“I knew he'd lied again.”
“That explains why you were angry.”
Claire's voice remained steady.
“It doesn't explain why you put my child at risk.”
Monica could not answer that.
Claire ended the call understanding something she had not expected.
May you like
Monica had been deceived too.
But only one of them had tried to make Claire pay for Ethan’s deception with her body.
