The Woman Who Came Back to the Gala
Chapter 09 - The Woman Who Came Back to the Gala
Brooke asked Ethan to meet her at his attorney's office. She arrived without Chad and placed photographs of the proxy document on Naomi's desk.
“I don't know if it's forged,” Brooke said. “But I know Ethan refused to sign anything like this.”
Ethan examined the image. The date was two days before his accident. A signature had been added to a document appointing Chad to exercise voting rights if Ethan became unavailable.
“Why bring this now?” Ethan asked.
Brooke looked down. “Because I think Chad is hiding something.”
“You thought I was useless six months ago.”
She winced. “I said unforgivable things.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I. I was the one in the hospital.”
She began crying. Ethan didn't comfort her; he wasn't cruel, but he wasn't going to manage her guilt either.
Naomi explained that any allegation of forgery required examination of the underlying document and signing history. Brooke agreed to provide the original file location and to cooperate with investigators.
Before leaving, she turned to Isabella, who had arrived with a copy of Mara's voicemail.
“I treated you terribly,” Brooke said.
“You did,” Isabella answered.
“I was jealous that he listened to you.”
Isabella looked at her. “He listened because I told him the truth. You could have done that too.”
Brooke accepted the words without argument. That was a beginning, not forgiveness.
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When she left, Ethan sat quietly for a long time. “I used to think betrayal had to be loud.”
Isabella touched her pendant. “Sometimes it's just people refusing to tell you what they know.”
