Chapter 7
He burst in shouting: “Claire, what have you done? The whole building knows!”
him my most innocent, confused look: “Knows what? What are you talking about,
I gave honey?”
“You really don’t know?”
He stared at me suspiciously, finding it hard to believe I hadn’t heard what everyone was talking about.
I nodded frantically: “After our fight, I’ve just been waiting at home hoping to apologize to you. Haven’t felt like going out or even checking my phone. Did you send me some
messages?”
I reached for my phone as if to check.
He quickly grabbed my hand, suddenly apologetic: “No, nothing! Never mind, I’m sorry – I
was wrong.”
Seizing the moment, I switched to excitement: “Honey, I have amazing news! I found my biological father!”
“Oh really? Congratulations.” His response was flat, clearly distracted.
I bet he was only thinking about his affair being exposed.
Well, the next piece of news would really shake him up.
I pulled out the bright red property deed, waving it before him: “My dad is loaded! When he heard we were still renting, he bought this whole apartment and gave it to me!”
His eyes bulged as he stared at me, checking if I was serious before snatching the deed to
examine it.
“It’s real… Unit 401, Owner: Claire Bennett.”
He read it three times, word by word.
10 13
Too Late to Say Sorry
41.64
His expression was ecstatic, his legs going weak like he was walking on clouds.
Then Ryan hugged me excitedly, spinning me around.
“Babe, we’re married this means half of it is mine, right?”
The greed was written all over his face.
Fighting back my disgust, I forced a cheerful tone: “Of course, honey! What’s mine is yours. See? I told you better days were coming!”
In his joy–addled state, he didn’t notice one crucial detail – his name wasn’t on the deed.
My father, being the shrewd businessman he is, had specifically noted in the gift contract: This property is solely for his daughter Claire.
Let Ryan enjoy his pleasant dream a little longer.
The higher his joy now, the harder the fall later.
10:13
