Chapter 12: The Friend Who Knew Everything
I refused to believe it.
There was no way.
Claire?
My Claire?
The woman who brought me groceries when I was too depressed to cook.
The woman who sat beside me during the divorce.
The woman who cried with me after Noah chose Ellis.
No.
It couldn’t be her.
I stared at the signature.
Maybe it was a mistake.
Maybe there was another Claire.
But Daniel was already searching through the records.
“She was involved.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Sabrina—”
“No.””
My voice became louder.
“She wouldn’t.””
Noah looked at me sadly.
“Mom.””
I turned toward him.
“Your father wasn’t the only person who knew how to manipulate people.””
That sentence hurt because it was true.
I had spent so much time looking at Ellis that I never looked beside me.
The hearing ended.
But the questions followed me everywhere.
Why would Claire betray me?
How long had she been lying?
And the worst question:
Did she ever really care?
That evening, Claire called.
I stared at her name.
Noah sat beside me.
“Are you going to answer?””
I didn’t know.
The woman on the other end might be my best friend.
Or my enemy.
Finally, I picked up.
“Hello?””
A long silence.
Then:
“You found out.””
My heart sank.
Not denial.
Not confusion.
Confirmation.
“Why?””
Claire sighed.
“You wouldn’t understand.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You helped destroy my family.””
“No.””
Her voice sharpened.
“I helped save myself.””
I froze.
“What?””
Claire continued.
“You think Ellis was the only person trapped by money?””
“What are you talking about?””
“You have no idea what your father left behind.””
My grip tightened.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
The way she said it made me nervous.
“What did my father do?””
Claire became quiet.
Then she said:
“He ruined my family.””
The room went still.
I couldn’t speak.
Claire continued.
“Your father took everything from us.””
“No.””
“He built Ellis’s company using my father’s money.””
I looked at Noah.
He looked confused.
Claire’s voice cracked.
“You always thought Ellis betrayed you.””
A pause.
“But the truth is, Sabrina…”
I held my breath.
“Your entire marriage was built on a lie.””
The call ended.
I sat there unable to move.
Noah touched my hand.
“Mom?””
I looked at him.
For the first time, I wondered if I truly knew anyone.
My father.
My husband.
My best friend.
Everyone had secrets.
Then my phone received one final message.
From Claire.
A photo appeared.
An old photograph.
My father.
Ellis.
And Claire’s father.
Standing together twenty years ago.
Behind them was a company sign.
A company I recognized.
Because it was the company Ellis always claimed he built alone.
Below the photo was a message.
*Ask Noah who his grandfather really was.*
I looked at my son.
May you like
And I realized the truth wasn’t ending.
It was only beginning.
