Chapter 10 - Eric Had Been Paid to Meet Me
I had never imagined there could be a receipt for the beginning of my marriage.
But there it was.
Eleanor had transferred $25,000 to Eric shortly before the gala where we supposedly met by accident.
Another $25,000 followed six months later.
The payment description read:
Milestone Two.
I felt physically sick.
Martin explained the arrangement in a recorded interview with Rachel present.
Eleanor had learned that my grandmother controlled significant private investments.
She believed marrying Eric to me would eventually give the Hayes family access.
My grandmother discovered Martin had leaked confidential information and fired him.
But by then, the introduction had already happened.
“Did Eric know everything?”
“Enough.”
“Did he know about the Raven Trust?”
“Yes.”
“Before our first date?”
Martin looked at me.
“Yes.”
I thought that answer would destroy me.
Instead, something inside me became strangely calm.
I was finished mourning a marriage that apparently began as a business plan.
Now I wanted my life back.
Rachel contacted federal and state investigators through the appropriate channels.
The forged loan guarantee, unauthorized transfers, false notarization, and identity misuse were documented.
Still, we needed one thing.
Proof that Eric intended to execute the scheme knowing I had never consented.
The bathroom recording was strong.
But Eric could claim exaggeration, misunderstanding, or drunken bravado.
So I went home.
Exactly when he expected me to return from Paris.
I rolled my suitcase through the front door at 8:07 Sunday night.
Eric smiled and hugged me.
“You look rested.”
I smiled back.
“You have no idea.”
Eleanor arrived twenty minutes later with flowers.
Richard and Sarah came for dinner.
Malcolm appeared unexpectedly.
Everyone behaved as if nothing had happened.
Then Eric raised his wineglass.
“To Clara.”
I raised mine too.
“To family.”
His smile widened.
At 9:15, I deliberately mentioned that I had been thinking about refinancing the house.
Eric almost dropped his glass.
Richard looked at Malcolm.
Eleanor went pale.
And Malcolm quietly said:
“That may be difficult.”
I tilted my head.
“Why?”
Nobody answered.
Then Eric made the mistake we had been waiting for.
May you like
He said:
“Because you already signed the papers.”
