She Rejected Him on a Blind Date—Then Another Woman Said, “Marry Me”
Chapter 4
Security was increased.
Claire’s family lawyer contacted the police.
Victor denied everything.
But Ethan wasn’t convinced.
He began investigating the company.
He didn’t have a corporate title.
He didn’t need one.
Claire gave him access.
Ethan discovered something strange.
A transportation subsidiary was paying an outside logistics consultant three times the market rate.
The consultant’s owner was connected to Victor.
Ethan traced the payments.
They led through four shell companies.
Then into a private account.
Claire looked at the records.
“How much?”
“Sixteen million.”
She stared.
“In one year?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Not anymore.”
They presented the evidence to the board.
Victor became furious.
“You’re accusing me of theft?”
Ethan replied:
“I’m asking where the money went.”
Victor slammed his fist on the table.
“You’re nobody.”
Ethan remained calm.
“Maybe.”
Victor leaned closer.
“But if I’m nobody, why are you scared of my questions?”
Silence.
Claire looked at Ethan.
The board demanded an independent audit.
Victor voted against it.
Everyone noticed.
Two days later, the auditor found the missing money.
The financial network went deeper.
Victor had been siphoning company funds for years.
But he wasn’t alone.
Another executive was involved.
Claire’s cousin, Daniel Bennett.
Claire was devastated.
“He’s family.”
Ethan nodded.
“That’s why they trusted him.”
Daniel disappeared before he could be questioned.
The police issued a warrant.
Claire sat alone in the library that night.
Ethan found her there.
“You okay?”
“No.”
She wiped her eyes.
“My father trusted him.”
“Your father trusted a lot of people.”
“So did I.”
Ethan sat beside her.
She looked at him.
“Do you regret this?”
“The marriage?”
“Yes.”
He thought.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you didn’t know me when you asked.”
She smiled faintly.
“You didn’t know me either.”
“Still don’t.”
“That hurts.”
He laughed.
“I know.”
For the first time, Claire laughed too.
Their arrangement was beginning to feel less like a contract.
But neither wanted to admit it.
Then the investigation uncovered something worse.
Victor wasn’t just stealing money.
He had arranged for Claire’s car to be sabotaged two months earlier.
The crash had nearly killed her.
She had assumed it was an accident.
Ethan stared at the report.
“Your uncle tried to kill you?”
Claire couldn’t speak.
The room went silent.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
A man’s voice said:
“You married the wrong man.”
Claire froze.
Ethan took the phone.
“Who are you?”
The call ended.
Ethan looked at Claire.
“Do you know that voice?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
“I do.”
