Chapter 3 - The Man Corinne Put Between Them
Nathan Mercer arrived before Ethan called him.
That bothered Daniel immediately.
Nathan walked into the living room carrying his briefcase.
“What happened?”
Ethan stared.
“How did you know something happened?”
Nathan stopped.
Corinne answered too quickly.
“I called him.”
“When?”
“While Daniel was driving over.”
Ethan looked at Nathan.
“You knew about Claire’s trust?”
Nathan adjusted his jacket.
“I knew there were estate issues.”
“You’re named as replacement trustee.”
Silence.
Nathan looked at Corinne.
That tiny glance told Ethan everything.
“You knew.”
Nathan sighed.
“Ethan, sit down.”
“No.”
“This is complicated.”
“No. It’s actually becoming incredibly simple.”
Daniel placed the questionable amendment on the coffee table.
“Did you prepare this?”
Nathan barely looked at it.
“No.”
“Have you seen it?”
“No.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You knew which document I meant without looking at it.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
Corinne whispered:
“Stop.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“No. Nobody stops now.”
Maisie was upstairs with Ethan’s sister.
Safe.
For the first time, Ethan could focus entirely on the two adults standing in front of him.
Daniel continued.
“If this amendment had been accepted, Nathan would control distributions from Maisie’s trust until she turned thirty.”
Ethan looked at Nathan.
“Could he take the money?”
“Not legally.”
Nathan jumped on that.
“Exactly.”
Daniel wasn’t finished.
“But a trustee could control investments, approve expenses, select professionals, and potentially collect authorized fees.”
“How much?”
“Depending on the trust and assets, substantial amounts.”
Corinne crossed her arms.
“Nathan has financial experience.”
Ethan stared at her.
“You just admitted you knew.”
She froze.
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Corinne.”
“What?”
“You’re making this worse.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You two can argue about strategy later.”
Then Daniel discovered something else.
The original trust contained a clause Claire had specifically requested.
Corinne Carter—or anyone related to Corinne—was prohibited from serving as trustee.
Nathan’s face changed.
Ethan noticed.
“Claire named her?”
Daniel nodded.
“Explicitly.”
Corinne’s voice became sharp.
“Because Claire hated me.”
Ethan turned.
Claire had known Corinne.
Of course she had.
Corinne had worked with Ethan’s company years before their marriage.
But Ethan had always believed the women barely interacted.
“Why would Claire specifically block your family?”
Corinne looked away.
Daniel answered carefully.
“She never explained fully.”
“Did she say anything?”
Daniel hesitated.
“She said, ‘If something happens to me, don’t let Corinne get close to Maisie’s inheritance.’”
Silence.
Ethan felt something inside him drop.
Corinne’s eyes filled with tears.
“She was paranoid.”
“About what?”
“She thought everyone wanted her money.”
“You told me you didn’t know she had money.”
Corinne froze again.
Another lie.
Then Daniel found a sealed envelope inside the stack.
Claire’s handwriting appeared on the front.
Not a legal document.
A personal instruction.
Ethan reached for it.
Corinne moved instantly.
“DON’T.”
Everyone froze.
Ethan stared at her.
Corinne’s breathing became shallow.
Nathan whispered:
“Corinne, let him read it.”
She turned on her brother.
“You said that letter was gone.”
Silence.
Ethan slowly looked from one sibling to the other.
Neither could take the words back.
The letter wasn’t something Corinne had accidentally discovered.
May you like
They had been looking for it.
👉 Claire had deliberately barred Corinne’s family from Maisie’s trust—and Corinne’s terrified reaction revealed she and Nathan had been searching for Claire’s missing letter.
