Chapter 12 - THE TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR BRIBE
My father had offered Claire twenty million dollars.
Not to help her.
Not to protect our children.
But to silence her.
I stared at the letter until the words blurred.
For months, I'd believed Claire was becoming distant because pregnancy had made her emotional.
I had convinced myself she no longer understood me.
That Sienna offered something Claire couldn't.
Excitement.
Admiration.
Escape.
Now I understood the truth.
Claire had been fighting to protect our family while I escaped into another woman's arms.
And my father had tried to buy her silence.
I called Claire's attorney.
“I want to provide every relevant document to the investigators.”
He paused.
“That's appropriate. Your counsel should coordinate the production.”
I swallowed.
“And I want Claire to know I'm not going to protect my father.”
“Then demonstrate that through your actions.”
I nodded.
“I will.”
Over the next several weeks, the investigation expanded.
Financial regulators reviewed the fraudulent transfers.
The board commissioned an independent examination of executive misconduct.
Several employees cooperated.
Jonathan Pierce resigned and later faced charges related to the alleged scheme.
Marcus Sterling became the subject of criminal proceedings.
Sienna was questioned about her role in accessing confidential company information.
And Richard Knox's financial relationships came under scrutiny.
I didn't attempt to negotiate private settlements to make everything disappear.
I wanted the evidence examined.
Even if that meant losing control of the company.
Even if it meant admitting how badly I'd failed.
At home, the nursery remained empty.
I couldn't bring myself to remove the painted moon.
Or the little clouds.
Or the rocking chairs.
But I also stopped pretending the room was waiting for Claire to return.
It was a reminder of what I'd missed.
And what I still had a responsibility to become.
My attorney helped arrange a parenting schedule.
At first, the visits were brief.
Then longer.
I learned how to change diapers.
How to prepare bottles according to the pediatrician's instructions.
How to burp Ethan without startling him.
How to recognize when Eva needed a break.
I attended parenting classes.
Read books.
Asked questions.
And learned that being a father had nothing to do with being worth eighteen billion dollars.
One afternoon, I was holding Eva during a visit when Claire entered the room.
She stopped.
I looked up.
“Hi.”
She smiled faintly.
“Hi.”
Eva was asleep against my chest.
Claire watched us.
“You're getting better at that.”
I looked down.
“She's a good teacher.”
For the first time in months, Claire laughed.
Just once.
But the sound nearly broke me.
I wanted to tell her I loved her.
That I missed her.
That I would do anything to have her back.
Instead, I said:
“Thank you for letting me learn.”
She nodded.
Then her expression grew serious.
“Adrian, we need to talk about the house.”
My stomach tightened.
“What about it?”
“I don't want to return there.”
I swallowed.
“I understand.”
She looked surprised.
I continued.
“It was our home, but I made it a place where you felt alone.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
“I found a house near the lake.”
I looked up.
“For you and the children?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“I hope it's beautiful.”
She hesitated.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Adrian, there's a room in it I haven't decided what to do with.”
