Chapter 11 - What William Had Promised
William asked to speak privately with Claire.
She refused unless Maya and the officers remained nearby.
He lowered his voice.
“Ryan is losing his house.”
Claire had not known.
Ryan’s mortgage was months behind.
His business had failed.
He owed money to several private lenders.
William believed giving him the lake house would stabilize his life.
“You could have asked me to help,” Claire said.
“I knew you would say no.”
“So you decided my answer did not matter.”
William looked toward the lake.
“I wanted to keep the family together.”
“By removing me from my own home?”
“I thought you could buy another one.”
Claire stared at him.
There it was.
Her success had become justification for taking from her.
Ryan needed the house more.
Claire could recover.
Claire always recovered.
William viewed her strength as an unlimited resource everyone else could consume.
“Did you know Ryan planned to sell it?” she asked.
William’s head turned sharply.
Ryan froze.
Maya had found a draft sales agreement inside the county filing packet.
The proposed buyer was a development company.
The price was far below market value.
Ryan intended to sell quickly, pay his debts, and keep the remainder.
May you like
William had believed Ryan would live there.
Ryan had lied to both of them.
