Chapter 2: The Envelope on the Island
The payment history showed no missed payments.
Brooke’s loan had been current for eleven straight months.
I turned the screen toward Claire.
“You said the debt had to be paid immediately.”
“It did.”
“No, it didn’t.
This says the $51,000 was a voluntary early payoff.”
Claire’s face lost its color.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Before she could answer, the front door opened.
Brooke stepped inside, holding the Mustang’s keys.
She smiled at first, but the moment she saw the banking records on the island, she stopped.
“You showed him?” Brooke snapped.
Claire stood so quickly her chair scraped the floor.
“You weren’t supposed to come here.”
“This is my house,” I said.
“And that is my daughter’s money.”
Brooke tightened her fingers around the keys.
“Claire made her choice.”
A floorboard creaked above us.
Maya was standing on the stairs, her eyes swollen from crying.
“You bought a car with my future?” she asked.
Brooke looked at Claire.
“Tell her why.”
Claire began shaking.
“Not in front of Maya.”
“Why not?” I demanded.
Brooke placed a sealed envelope on the island.
My name was written across it.
Then she said, “Because the loan wasn’t the secret Claire was paying to hide.”
Claire lunged for the envelope—but Maya reached it first.
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What was Claire desperate to keep hidden from Maya?
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