Chapter 9 - THE TRAP IS SPRUNG
The confrontation took place at our home,
on a stormy Tuesday evening that mirrored the dark mood inside the house.
I had invited Madison to the house under the pretense of discussing the "final divorce settlement."
Grant was already there,
sitting in the living room,
looking pale,
exhausted,
and visibly trembling from stress.
When Madison arrived,
she walked in with her usual confidence,
believing she was about to secure her millions.
"Claire,"
she said,
nodding at me.
"Grant."
"Let's get this over with."
"I want the final papers signed tonight."
I closed the front door behind her,
locking it with a solid,
heavy click.
"Sit down,
Madison,"
I said,
my voice calm and cold.
"We have a lot to discuss."
She sat on the sofa opposite Grant,
who wouldn't even look her in the eyes.
"What's wrong with him?"
she asked,
frowning.
"He looks like he's about to throw up."
"He's just realizing how badly he's been played,"
I said,
sitting in the armchair.
"By both of us."
"What are you talking about?"
she asked,
her voice rising in defensive anger.
"I have the NDA,
Claire."
"You signed it."
"Yes,
I did,"
I agreed,
"but the NDA is legally void,
Madison."
"Because Grant committed fraud when he signed it."
"He didn't disclose all of his assets."
"Specifically,
the $6 million he funneled into Vanguard Horizon."
Madison gasped,
looking at Grant.
"You told her?"
she hissed.
"I didn't tell her anything!"
Grant shouted,
finally looking up,
his eyes wild with anger.
"She knew!"
"She's known the whole time!"
"And that's not the only thing I know,"
I continued,
pulling out the envelope Julian Croft had given me.
"I also know about the baby,
Madison."
I opened the envelope and pulled out the paternity test.
"According to this DNA report from last week,
the child you are carrying is not Grant's."
"It's Julian Croft's."
Grant froze,
staring at the paper in my hand as if it were a poisonous snake.
"What?"
he whispered,
his voice cracking.
"What did you say?"
"She's lying!"
Madison screamed,
her face turning pale as she lunged toward me to grab the paper.
I held it out of her reach,
my expression unchanging.
"I have the official results from Julian's clinic,
Madison,"
I said.
"And I have Julian's statement confirming your relationship."
"You were working for him from the beginning,
to infiltrate Whitaker Holdings and drain Grant's accounts."
Grant turned to Madison,
his face contorted with rage.
"You...
you lying bitch!"
he roared,
standing up and moving toward her.
"I gave you everything!"
"I ruined my marriage for you!"
"I stole from my own company for you!"
"And the baby isn't even mine?"
"Grant,
please,
listen to me!"
she pleaded,
backing away,
her confidence completely shattered.
"Julian is lying!"
"He's trying to destroy us!"
"No,
Madison,"
I said,
stepping between them.
"He's trying to protect himself."
"And he's left you completely out in the cold."
"But don't worry,
May you like
you won't be alone."
"Because Grant is going with you."
