Chapter 4 - THE BABY SHOWER
Three days later, I received an invitation.
Not from Bradley.
From Barbara.
A formal card.
Gold lettering.
Claire Bennett's Baby Celebration.
I stared at it.
They were actually throwing a baby shower.
For the woman carrying my husband's child.
And they expected me to ignore it.
I called Daniel.
“Can I go?”
He sighed.
“You can do anything you want.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“I know.”
“I need to know what they're planning.”
“Then don't go alone.”
I smiled.
“I won't.”
On Saturday afternoon, I arrived at the country club.
The same club where Barbara had once told me I was lucky to be accepted as a member's wife.
The ballroom was decorated in white and gold.
Flowers.
Champagne.
A giant cake.
At least fifty guests.
And in the center of everything stood Claire.
She looked nervous.
She kept touching her stomach.
Then I saw Bradley.
He was standing beside her.
His hand rested on her back.
My husband looked like a proud father.
When he saw me, he nearly dropped his glass.
The room went silent.
Barbara walked toward me.
“What are you doing here?”
I held up the invitation.
“You invited me.”
“I thought you wouldn't come.”
“I changed my mind.”
Bradley stepped forward.
“Maddie, this isn't the place.”
“No?”
I looked around.
“Then where would you like to discuss the three-point-eight million dollars you stole from my company?”
Several guests gasped.
Barbara's face hardened.
Bradley grabbed my arm.
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.”
Claire looked frightened.
“I didn't know she was coming.”
I looked at her.
“Did you know I was his wife?”
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did you know he was married when you started seeing him?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
“And did you know he was using my company to pay for your medical care?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know about the money.”
I believed her.
At least partly.
Then she whispered:
“He told me you were divorcing him.”
I laughed.
“Of course he did.”
Bradley looked furious.
“Enough.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You lied to her too.”
Claire looked at him.
“Bradley?”
He said nothing.
I pulled out my phone.
“I have copies of Project Horizon.”
Barbara's expression changed instantly.
Bradley whispered:
“You stole company documents.”
“No.”
I smiled.
“I own the company.”
Silence.
Then Claire looked at Barbara.
“Is it true?”
Barbara's face remained cold.
“Claire, you don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Claire looked at Bradley.
“You told me your marriage was over.”
“It was going to be.”
“Was?”
He reached for her.
She stepped away.
Then a man entered the ballroom.
Daniel.
He carried a stack of documents.
Behind him were two investigators.
Bradley went pale.
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
“Mr. Reed, we have questions regarding unauthorized transfers.”
Barbara immediately shouted:
“This is harassment!”
One investigator looked at her.
“Mrs. Bennett, we aren't here because of a divorce.”
Barbara froze.
“We're here because of fraud.”
Then Daniel turned toward me.
“There’s something you need to see.”
He handed me a document.
It was a bank transfer.
Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
But this time, I saw the original recipient.
Not the clinic.
Not Claire.
A private trust.
The beneficiary was a child.
The child's name was blacked out.
But the date of birth was visible.
The baby wasn't due in six weeks.
The child had already been born.
I looked at Bradley.
“Who is that child?”
He said nothing.
Claire began crying.
Barbara whispered:
“Oh God.”
Then the ballroom doors opened.
An elderly woman entered.
She looked directly at me.
May you like
And said:
“You have no idea what your husband has been hiding from you.”
