Chapter 3 - Richard Had Signed The Agreement
Richard tried to explain.
That was his first mistake.
“Claire, you need context.”
She stared at him.
“Seven years of context?”
Evelyn stood beside her.
Not touching.
Not yet.
Richard said the agreement had been created after Claire’s father,
Thomas Mercer, died.
Thomas owned a minority interest in Vale Meridian Holdings, the private
investment company controlled by Richard’s late father, Edward Vale.
Claire had never known that.
Her father had been an architect.
At least that was what she believed.
Evelyn explained that Thomas had also invested in several early Vale
real-estate projects.
When he died unexpectedly, his estate should have received a significant
payout.
Instead, the Vale family disputed the ownership.
Legal threats followed.
Evelyn was grieving.
Claire was twenty-three.
Richard was already dating Claire.
That detail landed like another glass of champagne.
“You were involved?”
Richard shook his head.
“I was twenty-six. My father handled everything.”
“But you signed.”
“As a witness.”
“You knew she was being paid to leave me.”
“I knew there was a settlement.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Richard looked away.
Claire understood.
He knew enough.
Maybe not everything.
Enough.
Evelyn said Edward Vale offered her two choices.
Fight a legal battle she could barely afford while the Vales challenged
Thomas’s ownership.
Or accept a settlement, leave Illinois, and agree not to contact Claire
while the dispute remained confidential.
“Why would you agree?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“Because they threatened to drag your father’s debts through court and
attach the house.”
Claire shook her head.
“You still could’ve told me.”
“I tried.”
Richard interrupted.
“No.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You intercepted the letter.”
The ballroom went silent again.
May you like
Claire turned toward her husband.
“What letter?”
