Chapter 1 - THE MAN I HADN'T CALLED IN SEVEN YEARS
The voice outside my hospital room belonged to my father.
“I'm Robert Bennett. That's my daughter in there.”
Every muscle in my body went rigid.
Seven years.
That was how long it had been since I'd stood in my parents' living room and told them I was marrying Daniel whether they approved or not.
Seven years since my father had said, “If you walk out with him tonight, Claire, don't expect me to pretend I trust him.”
I'd heard only the threat.
Daniel had made sure of that.
Now my father's voice sounded older.
Angrier.
And frightened.
A security officer said something I couldn't hear.
Then another familiar voice cut in.
“She's my sister. Tell her Adam is here.”
My older brother.
Three people.
Dad.
Adam.
And my mother.
My chest tightened so hard the monitor beside me began chirping faster.
Nurse Kelly looked at the screen.
“Try to breathe slowly.”
“I haven't spoken to them in years.”
“Do you want them here?”
That question nearly undid me.
Everyone else had spent the night telling me what I should do.
Daniel wanted me home.
Vanessa wanted me quiet.
Even fear was trying to make decisions for me.
I closed my eyes.
“Yes.”
The door opened.
My mother entered first.
Helen Bennett had always seemed impossible to shake. Tonight she looked small.
Her hand flew to her mouth when she saw me.
“Oh, Claire.”
I hated how quickly I started crying.
She didn't run toward me.
She stopped beside the bed.
Waited.
“Can I hug you?”
I nodded.
Then I was thirty-six and seventeen at the same time, holding my mother while machines monitored my unborn daughter.
My father stood behind her.
His hair was grayer.
Adam looked exactly the way I remembered except for the scar near his jaw I had never seen before.
Dad stared at the bruising forming around my wrist.
“Did Daniel do that?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
His eyes closed.
Adam turned toward the door.
“Where is he?”
“Don't.”
He looked at me.
“Claire—”
“I don't need another man fighting over what happens to me.”
That stopped him.
He nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
Dad stepped closer.
“We came because we heard you were admitted.”
“How?”
Silence.
My mother looked at my father.
Something passed between them.
I felt it immediately.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Dad pulled an envelope from inside his coat.
“We weren't coming to the hospital tonight because of the pregnancy.”
My pulse changed.
“Then why?”
“We were already looking for Daniel.”
I stared at him.
Dad placed the envelope on my blanket.
Inside were bank records.
Property transfers.
Loan guarantees.
And Daniel's signature.
Dozens of times.
“What is this?”
My father looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
“Proof that your husband has been using your name to borrow against Bennett family assets for almost five years.”
My mouth went dry.
“I don't own Bennett assets.”
“You do.”
“No.”
Dad's voice softened.
“You always did.”
May you like
Then he said the words Daniel had spent seven years making sure I never heard.
“Claire, you never lost your inheritance when you married him.”
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