Chapter 2 - The Fourth Ticket Has Her Name
Claire stared at the four luggage tags hanging from Ethan’s suitcase.
Ethan Bennett.
Sophia Reed.
Madeline Bennett.
And the fourth name made the blood leave her face.
Lucy Bennett.
Her six-year-old daughter.
Claire looked up so slowly that even Madeline seemed afraid to breathe.
“You were taking my child?”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Claire, listen to me.”
“No.”
Her voice was almost quiet now.
That frightened him more than the shouting had.
“You were leaving the country with another woman, your mother, and my daughter?”
Sophia covered her mouth.
“You said Lucy was coming later with Claire.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“Sophia—”
“You told me Claire agreed.”
Claire looked at Sophia.
“When?”
Sophia’s eyes filled.
“Three weeks ago.”
Claire had spent those three weeks believing Ethan was working late because Bennett Capital was preparing an acquisition.
Instead, he had been preparing to remove her from her own life.
The real-estate agent quietly asked the prospective buyers to wait outside.
Claire’s house manager, Nora Ellis, appeared at the top of the staircase.
She had Lucy with her.
The little girl wore pink pajamas and held a stuffed rabbit.
“Mommy?”
Claire immediately softened.
“Come here, baby.”
Lucy ran down.
Claire wrapped both arms around her.
Ethan took another step.
“Lucy was never in danger.”
Claire looked over her daughter’s head.
“You bought an international ticket in her name without telling me.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?”
Madeline finally spoke.
“We were trying to prevent something worse.”
Claire laughed once.
It sounded broken.
“Worse than kidnapping my daughter?”
“Don’t use that word.”
“What word would you prefer?”
Madeline’s face tightened.
Ethan reached for the suitcase.
Claire noticed a document pouch tucked beneath the handle.
She pulled it free before he could stop her.
Inside were passports.
Ethan’s.
Madeline’s.
Sophia’s.
And a newly issued passport for Lucy.
Claire stared.
She had not applied for it.
Then she found a notarized letter supposedly giving Ethan permission to travel internationally with their daughter.
At the bottom was Claire’s signature.
Except Claire had never signed it.
The hallway went silent again.
Sophia whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
“You forged my name?”
“I didn’t.”
“Then who did?”
Ethan looked toward Madeline.
Madeline’s composure vanished.
Claire followed his eyes.
Her voice became colder.
“You?”
Madeline said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Then Nora spoke from the stairs.
“Mrs. Bennett, there’s something else.”
Everyone turned.
Nora held an envelope.
“I found this in Lucy’s school bag yesterday.”
Claire opened it.
Inside was a withdrawal form from Lucy’s private school.
The form said Lucy would be permanently relocating overseas.
Parent authorization:
Claire Bennett.
Another forged signature.
But this one looked different.
Claire knew the handwriting.
She had seen it for twelve years on birthday cards, Christmas gifts, and family notes.
It belonged to Ethan’s older brother.
May you like
Jonathan Bennett.
The man Ethan claimed he had not spoken to in almost four years.
