Chapter 6 - CLARA’S MILLION
Clara came to my office without Silas.
She looked tired.
No jewelry.
No expensive coat.
Different from Christmas.
“I didn’t know you knew about my trust.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Dad said Grandpa told everyone different things.”
“He did not.”
She sat.
“I had money.”
“How much?”
“You know.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Her face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because I spent six years believing you got less.”
“Not my fault.”
“No.”
I meant it.
That surprised her.
“So where did it go?”
“Life.”
“One point one million dollars?”
“I bought the first house.”
$430,000.
“Then?”
“Silas’s first restaurant.”
$220,000.
“Then?”
“Kids.”
“Clara.”
“Private school. Fertility treatments before Connor. Medical bills. Mom needed surgery. We traveled.”
“How much did you put into Silas’s businesses total?”
She looked away.
“Maybe four hundred.”
“And Dad?”
“Another two hundred.”
“What about the loan against the house?”
Her eyes filled.
“I thought you agreed.”
There it was.
“What did they tell you?”
“Dad said you finally understood that the property couldn’t just sit there while our company died.”
“My property.”
“Future property.”
“Trust property.”
“You sound like a lawyer.”
“Because apparently somebody in this family needed one.”
She flinched.
“Did you sign anything?”
“No.”
“Did you see my consent?”
“No.”
“Did Silas?”
May you like
“I don’t know.”
That answer frightened her as soon as she said it.
