Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO CONFESSED AT DINNER
Victoria Bowmont arrived at the Ashcroft estate wearing a pale pink dress and a smile that made Clare's skin crawl.
Douglas sat near the fireplace.
Eleanor stood beside him.
Nathaniel remained close to Clare.
The room looked exactly as it had during their first disastrous dinner.
But this time, nobody pretended they were discussing business.
Victoria spoke first.
“Clare, I'm glad you came.”
Clare didn't sit.
“You said someone here knows what happened to my mother.”
Victoria's smile widened.
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Douglas cleared his throat.
“Your mother's death was unfortunate.”
Clare turned toward him.
“Was it preventable?”
He didn't answer.
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“Father.”
Douglas's expression hardened.
“This conversation is becoming unnecessarily emotional.”
Clare laughed bitterly.
“My mother died. I think emotion is allowed.”
Silence.
Then Eleanor spoke.
“Your mother became involved in matters beyond her understanding.”
Clare stared at her.
“She was trying to protect patients.”
Eleanor's voice remained cold.
“She was threatening a company employing thousands of people.”
Nathaniel looked horrified.
“Mother.”
Eleanor continued.
“Sometimes difficult decisions are necessary.”
Clare felt the world tilt.
“What decisions?”
Victoria smiled.
“Margaret had evidence that Meridian falsified enrollment and financial records.”
Clare's hands began shaking.
“And?”
“She refused to sign a confidentiality agreement.”
Douglas looked toward Victoria.
“Enough.”
But Victoria was enjoying herself.
“She wanted to go public.”
Clare swallowed.
“What happened to her?”
Victoria stepped closer.
“She was offered money.”
Clare shook her head.
“My mother wouldn't take it.”
“No,” Victoria said softly. “She wouldn't.”
Then her expression changed.
“So the company made sure her treatment appeal would remain unresolved while legal counsel assessed the risk.”
Nathaniel stopped breathing.
Clare felt sick.
“You delayed her medication?”
Douglas stood.
“This is being misrepresented.”
Clare looked at him.
“Did you know?”
He didn't answer.
“Did you know my mother was dying while your company withheld assistance?”
Silence.
Then Eleanor said something that made Nathaniel turn pale.
“Margaret Whitmore was going to destroy the merger.”
Nathaniel stared at his mother.
“You sacrificed a woman's treatment for a business agreement?”
Eleanor's expression remained unreadable.
“We protected the family.”
Clare stepped backward.
Her knees felt weak.
Then Victoria smiled.
“And now you understand why you can never belong here.”
Nathaniel moved between them.
“That's enough.”
Victoria laughed.
“You're still defending her?”
“Yes.”
“She has nothing.”
“She has more integrity than anyone in this room.”
Douglas's face darkened.
“Nathaniel, if you leave with her, you're finished here.”
Nathaniel looked at his father.
Then at Clare.
He took her hand.
“Then I'm finished.”
They turned toward the door.
But Eleanor spoke again.
“Before you go, Nathaniel, ask Clare why she hasn't told you about the baby.”
Nathaniel froze.
Clare went completely still.
Victoria's smile disappeared.
May you like
And in the terrible silence that followed, Nathaniel realized his mother knew something even he didn't.
Clare was pregnant.
