CHAPTER 20: CLAIRE TELLS THE TRUTH
Claire finally agreed to speak without her attorney.
She met Amelia inside a guarded hospital conference room.
Her confidence was gone.
“I did not sabotage the elevator.”
“You knew it would stop.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you enter?”
“William said Ethan would be forced to choose.”
Amelia stared at her.
“You agreed to trap me so you could test my husband?”
“I thought the doors would reopen in three minutes.”
“We were trapped for seven hours.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“What was supposed to happen?”
“Ethan would receive a call saying both of us were inside. Cameras would record who he reached first.”
“And you believed he would choose you.”
Claire looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because William promised me Ethan still loved me.”
“You were sleeping with him.”
Claire looked toward the door.
“Once.”
“That was enough.”
“No. It wasn’t.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Ethan ended it immediately. I kept messaging him because William told me Ethan was only staying with you because of the baby.”
Amelia fought the urge to stand.
“You blamed my unborn child for your affair?”
“I was angry.”
“You were cruel.”
“Yes.”
The admission surprised both women.
Claire continued.
“William had evidence that my family caused the mill fire. He said he would send my father to prison unless I cooperated.”
“Did Morales work with him?”
“Yes.”
“Who made the fake call from your number?”
“Morales.”
“Why did the elevator remain stopped?”
“I don’t know.”
Amelia studied her.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Claire’s eyes filled with fear.
“The plan changed when they learned you were carrying a boy.”
“What does Theo have to do with this?”
Claire looked toward the camera in the corner.
Then she leaned closer.
“The baby was never the target.”
“What was?”
Claire’s face went pale.
“His blood.”
Before Amelia could ask what she meant, Claire collapsed.
May you like
Blood ran from her nose.
Someone had poisoned the water placed on the conference-room table
