Chapter 9 - VIVIAN'S INVESTMENT
Vivian's investment was small.
Fifty thousand dollars.
The source was not.
The money came from a check I had given her for medical expenses.
She had not needed the procedure she claimed she needed.
She invested the money instead.
When I confronted her, she did not deny it.
"I was trying to create something for myself."
"With money you obtained by lying to me."
"You had plenty."
I stared at her.
She immediately knew she had chosen the wrong sentence.
"That's not what I meant."
"It is exactly what you meant."
Vivian had later learned the clinic faced equipment problems.
She said nothing because she feared losing her investment.
"Did you know about our cycle?"
"No."
"Did you know there were record errors?"
"Rumors."
"And you stayed quiet."
She looked down.
"Yes."
Margaret stood in the doorway.
For once she did not attack Vivian.
She only said, "That's what silence costs."
Vivian snapped, "Don't lecture me. You hid things too."
Margaret went still.
"Yes."
That ended the argument faster than denial would have.
The independent review widened.
The clinic temporarily suspended embryo transfers.
Families panicked.
News reporters appeared outside.
Someone leaked my connection to the investigation.
Not the twins' names.
Mine.
My company clients began calling.
One asked whether I was "emotionally available" to continue leading a major campaign.
I nearly hung up.
Instead I said, "Yes. And if that changes, I'll tell you."
That night, Ryan came to the mansion.
He looked terrible.
"I know who leaked your name."
"Who?"
"My business partner, Evan."
"Why would Evan care?"
Ryan handed me a folder.
Evan had been negotiating to sell Ryan's company.
The buyer wanted the warehouse project.
The same project behind Ryan's hidden debt.
The same project I had guaranteed.
And the land beneath that warehouse was owned by a company I had never heard of.
Margaret Holdings LLC.
I looked at my mother.
May you like
She whispered, "Claire, I can explain."
