Chapter 4
Chapter 4 - A NEAR MISSThe following Tuesday, Clara was sitting in the sunroom, typing a secret log of Ethan's financial accounts into her burner phone—data she had managed to copy from his study while he was asleep. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. Her heart leaped into her throat as she looked up to see Eleanor standing directly behind her glass chair, her eyes fixed on Clara’s lap."What is that in your hand, Clara?" Eleanor asked, her voice dangerously calm, her hands folded neatly over her designer skirt.
Clara’s survival instincts kicked into overdrive. In a split second, she slid the burner phone under her maternity cushion and pulled out a small, leather-bound journal she kept as a decoy. "It’s... it’s just a diary, Mother," Clara stammered, making her voice sound intentionally weak and submissive. "I was writing down names for the baby. I want him to have a strong name. Like Ethan. Or your father."
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed, searching Clara’s face for any sign of deception. She stepped closer, her expensive perfume filling the air like a suffocating cloud. She reached down, her long, manicured fingers gripping Clara’s chin tightly, forcing her to look up.
"Do not lie to me, girl," Eleanor hissed, her gaze cutting right through Clara. "I smell deceit on you. If I find out you are plotting something behind my son’s back, a diary will be the least of your worries."
Just then, Ethan walked into the sunroom, holding a stack of business documents. "Mother? Clara? What’s going on?"
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Eleanor let go of Clara’s chin with a sharp flick, smoothing her clothes instantly. "Nothing, darling. Just reminding your wife how important family legacy is. She was just telling me she wants to name the boy after you."
Ethan smiled arrogantly, walking over to pat Clara’s head like a well-behaved pet. "As she should. Go upstairs, Clara. I need to speak with my mother in private." Clara nodded quickly, clutching her decoy journal and slipping her hand under the cushion to retrieve the hidden burner phone, her body shaking from the adrenaline of a near-fatal exposure.
