Chapter 5 - The Letter in Claire’s Bag
Claire’s taupe leather folder rested beside her chair.
Inside was a letter she had received two days earlier from the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division.
It concerned Harper Meridian Development, the family company Daniel would soon inherit.
During Claire’s recent assignment overseeing logistics contracts, her unit discovered irregular payments connected to military housing projects.
Inflated invoices.
Missing materials.
Companies that existed only on paper.
The investigation remained confidential.
Claire had not participated directly because of her relationship with Daniel.
She had immediately disclosed the conflict.
But her name appeared in an internal memo because she had originally flagged the defective housing reports.
Someone inside Harper Meridian had learned that.
That afternoon, Daniel called her unexpectedly.
“My mother wants the engagement dinner tonight.”
Claire found the timing strange.
Then Judith demanded she arrive in uniform.
Now Claire understood.
Judith wanted witnesses to see Claire as unstable, bitter, and personally hostile toward the family.
If the investigation became public, Judith could claim Claire had abused her military position after a broken engagement.
The dinner was not merely cruel.
It was strategic.
Claire looked at the folder beside her chair.
Judith followed her eyes.
May you like
For the first time that night, fear entered the older woman’s face.
👉 Judith knew Claire possessed information capable of destroying the Harper empire—and she was desperate to discredit her first.
