She Was a Doctor Who Became a Mail-Order Bride — The Cowboy Who Had No Idea What He Was Getting
Chapter 9
Samuel Reed had orchestrated everything.
He had arranged the advertisement.
He had manipulated Victor.
He had framed Clara.
He had used Ethan’s family.
But why?
Because Samuel had discovered the hidden trust years ago.
He had been the lawyer who handled the estate.
He knew Clara was the heir.
He knew the water rights were worth hundreds of millions.
He believed he could control her through marriage.
But Ethan had changed the plan.
Clara hadn’t become dependent on him.
She had become stronger.
Samuel needed to separate them.
And now he had one final strategy.
He would force Clara to sign over the trust.
They returned to the ranch.
Clara’s mother was hidden in the house.
Ethan gathered trusted workers.
The sheriff was informed.
But Samuel struck first.
The ranch bank account was frozen.
Employees received false termination notices.
Livestock was seized.
The county claimed the land had unpaid debts.
Within hours, the ranch was in chaos.
Ethan looked at Clara.
“This is what he wanted.”
She nodded.
“He wants us desperate.”
“Then don’t become desperate.”
Clara smiled.
“My entire career was destroyed because I refused to panic.”
He laughed.
“That’s my favorite thing about you.”
She looked at him.
“You have a favorite thing?”
“Several.”
She smiled.
“Tell me later.”
They discovered Samuel’s plan.
He would hold a legal hearing.
If Clara didn’t appear, the trust would be considered abandoned.
If she did, he would force her to sign.
There was one problem.
The law required independent medical confirmation that Clara was competent.
Samuel had chosen Dr. Miller.
Clara laughed.
“Convenient.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Can you prove he’s corrupt?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“His medical license.”
She researched it.
Dr. Miller had falsified records in three previous cases.
She found evidence of bribery.
She sent it to the state medical board.
Within hours, his license was suspended.
The hearing was delayed.
But Samuel wasn’t.
He arrived at the ranch that night.
He walked inside calmly.
“You’re making this harder than necessary.”
Clara faced him.
“You destroyed my life.”
“I gave you a chance.”
“You forced me into a marriage.”
“No.”
He looked at Ethan.
“I gave you a husband.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“You never gave me anything.”
Samuel smiled.
“Your father owed me.”
“What debt?”
“Your father’s entire company was built on borrowed money.”
Ethan frowned.
Samuel revealed the truth.
Joseph Walker had borrowed money from Victor to save the ranch.
Samuel had used the debt to gain influence.
But Joseph had secretly transferred control to Clara’s father.
The trust was created to escape him.
Samuel never forgave them.
He had spent years waiting.
Then Clara entered the picture.
The perfect heir.
The perfect target.
But Samuel had made one mistake.
He had underestimated her.
Clara stepped closer.
“You thought I was weak.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“I thought you were alone.”
She looked at Ethan.
“No.”
Samuel’s expression changed.
“That is why I’m here.”
A gunshot came from outside.
The sheriff had arrived.
Samuel turned.
Ethan tackled him.
The gun flew.
Chaos erupted.
Samuel escaped through the back door.
Clara ran after him.
But stopped when she saw another man.
Victor.
He was holding her mother.
“Stay back.”
Clara froze.
Ethan stood beside her.
Victor looked at them.
“You want her alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring me the trust.”
Clara looked at Ethan.
He whispered:
“Don’t.”
She stepped forward.
“I’ll give you what you want.”
Ethan stared at her.
“But you let her go first.”
Victor smiled.
“Deal.”
Clara didn’t know that the moment she said yes, the final part of her father’s plan had begun.
