Chapter 7: What Chloe Knew
I called her at nine that night from my hotel room.
She answered before the second ring, like she'd been holding the phone.
"Maddie."
"You said there was something you should have told me a long time ago."
A breath.
Then: "I knew about the patents.
Not the legal details — I didn't understand all of that.
But I knew Dad and Ethan were planning something.
I overheard them in Dad's office about two months ago.
I heard Ethan say your name and the word *transfer* and I heard Dad say it would all be handled before you realized what was happening."
My hand tightened around the phone.
"And you didn't tell me."
"I confronted Ethan.
That same night.
I told him I wasn't comfortable with whatever they were planning.
He told me it was a standard business restructuring.
He said you'd be compensated fairly.
He said—" Her voice broke slightly.
"He said if I loved him, I'd trust him."
"And you did."
"I wanted to." A pause.
"Maddie, I need you to know something about the proposal.
I didn't know it was happening that night.
I didn't know you'd come home.
When he got down on one knee, I was — I was shocked.
And then you walked in and I saw your face and I—" She stopped.
"I should have said no.
Right then.
In front of everyone.
I should have said no."
The room was very quiet.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because Mom was standing right behind me with her hands on my shoulders and Dad was watching and Ryan was watching and it felt like the whole room was already decided.
It felt like it had always already been decided." Her voice was smaller now.
"That's not an excuse.
I know it isn't."
I sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Chloe.
Did you know about the investor meetings?
The forty million dollars?"
"No." The word came out fast and certain.
"I didn't know about any of that until Ryan told me last night.
When he called you from the car — he called me right after.
He told me everything." A pause.
"Maddie, I think Ethan was using me too.
I think the engagement was partly about keeping me close enough that I wouldn't ask questions."
I didn't say anything for a moment.
"Are you still with him?" I asked.
"I moved out this morning.
I'm at a friend's place."
I stood up and walked to the window.
The city was lit up below, steady and indifferent.
"I'm not ready to forgive you," I said.
"I want to be honest about that."
"I know."
"But I believe you."
She was quiet for a long moment.
When she spoke again, her voice was careful, like she was choosing each word.
"There's one more thing.
Ethan has a file on his laptop.
I saw it once — he minimized it quickly when I walked in, but I saw the name.
It said *Prescott IP Transfer — Final.* I don't know what's in it.
But if it's what I think it is, it might be more than what Halcourt filed.
There might be a second document."
My chest went still.
"When did you see that?"
"Three weeks ago."
"Does he know you saw it?"
"No.
He thought I was in the kitchen."
I turned away from the window.
"Chloe.
I need you to write down everything you remember about what you saw.
The file name, the date, anything else on the screen.
Send it to me tonight."
"Okay."
"And don't tell anyone you called me."
"I won't."
I ended the call and immediately dialed Nora.
She picked up on the second ring.
"There may be a second document," I said.
May you like
A short silence.
"Tell me everything," she said.
