Chapter 3 - The Insurance PolicyDaniel came to the hospital that afternoon.
He brought flowers.
Roses.
My favorite.
I almost smiled.
“You always liked these,” he said.
I looked at the bouquet.
“I did.”
He sat beside me.
“Claire, we need to talk.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You've talked enough.”
His jaw tightened.
“I made mistakes.”
“You lied to police.”
“I panicked.”
“You blamed me.”
“I was protecting my mother.”
“You watched her burn me.”
He looked away.
“I didn't know what to do.”
I stared at him.
“You wiped oil off your shoes.”
His eyes lifted.
“I was in shock.”
“No.”
I spoke quietly.
“You were calculating.”
He said nothing.
Then he reached for my hand.
I pulled it away.
“Why was there a ten-million-dollar life insurance policy?”
His face froze.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
“Who told you?”
I smiled.
“So there is one.”
He stood.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“You're making a mistake.”
“No.”
I looked him directly in the eyes.
“My mistake was marrying you.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“You're going to regret destroying me.”
I smiled.
“Daniel, I don't have to destroy you.”
He frowned.
“You've already done that yourself.”
He left.
Lena entered minutes later.
“What happened?”
“He confirmed the policy.”
She nodded.
“Then we're ready.”
“Not yet.”
“What are you waiting for?”
I looked at the folder beside me.
“The full truth.”
Because there was one thing I still didn't know.
Why?
Why would Daniel risk everything?
Why would Vivian attack me?
Why would they need ten million dollars badly enough to commit attempted murder?
The answer arrived that evening.
A detective called.
“Mrs. Bennett, we've arrested your husband's accountant.”
My heart tightened.
“Why?”
“He confessed to helping Daniel hide money.”
“How much?”
There was silence.
Then:
“Twenty-seven million dollars.”
I closed my eyes.
Twenty-seven million.
My husband's theft had just become something much larger than marital betrayal.
May you like
It was organized fraud.
And I knew exactly how to prosecute it.
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