Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside
Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside
The courtroom was silent.
Too silent.
The kind of silence that came before a storm.
The recording continued playing.
A man's voice filled the room.
Ethan's voice.
Cold.
Distant.
Painful.
"I wish I had never met you."
Claire felt like the air had been taken from her lungs.
She stared at Ethan.
Waiting.
Hoping.
For him to explain.
For him to say something.
Anything.
But Ethan looked just as shocked as everyone else.
Because he had never said those words.
Not to Claire.
Not to anyone.
The recording ended.
Jonathan Pierce, Eleanor's lawyer, slowly turned toward the jury.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"This recording proves that the relationship between Ethan Ashford and Claire Bennett was not what it appeared to be."
The prosecutor immediately stood.
"Objection."
The judge looked up.
"On what grounds?"
"The authenticity of this recording has not been verified."
"Sustained."
The judge looked at Jonathan.
"Until proven authentic, this evidence carries no weight."
Jonathan nodded.
But he smiled.
Because he knew something.
Doubt had already been planted.
Claire looked down.
The pain in her eyes was worse than anger.
Ethan noticed.
He immediately reached for her hand.
"Claire."
She pulled away.
Only slightly.
But enough.
The movement broke his heart.
"I didn't say that."
His voice was almost a whisper.
"I know."
But she looked away.
"You don't sound like you."
Ethan froze.
Because that was the most painful thing she could have said.
She knew him.
She knew his voice.
His emotions.
His heart.
And even though she doubted the recording...
She was hurt that someone could make her hear something so cruel.
Outside the courtroom, reporters surrounded them.
"Mrs. Ashford, did Ethan secretly regret marrying you?"
"Did the Ashford family manipulate your relationship?"
"Are you still staying with Ethan?"
The questions attacked from every direction.
Ethan immediately stepped in front of Claire.
"Enough."
His voice was firm.
But the damage was already done.
That evening, Ethan returned to the Ashford mansion.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he needed answers.
The house that once represented his childhood now felt like a place full of enemies.
Every room contained a secret.
Every person had hidden something.
And he was tired of discovering the truth piece by piece.
Richard was in his office.
As always.
Surrounded by documents.
Surrounded by control.
Ethan walked in.
"Did you create the recording?"
Richard looked up.
A long silence.
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
Ethan noticed.
"Then who did?"
Richard looked away.
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Richard stood.
"You are letting your emotions blind you."
"No."
Ethan stepped closer.
"I am finally seeing."
Richard sighed.
"You think this family is your enemy."
"Isn't it?"
Richard had no answer.
Because he knew.
Too many secrets.
Too many lies.
"I want the truth."
Ethan's voice was low.
"Everything."
Richard looked at him.
"You cannot handle everything."
A bitter laugh escaped Ethan.
"My wife was almost killed."
A pause.
"I lost my trust in my sister."
Another pause.
"And I discovered my father hid my own memories from me."
He stared at Richard.
"Tell me what could possibly be worse."
Richard walked to the window.
"You want to know why I paid Margaret Collins?"
"Yes."
"Because after that night, I realized something."
"What?"
Richard turned.
"You were changing."
Ethan frowned.
"Changing?"
"You were becoming someone who wanted his own life."
"And?"
Richard's expression hardened.
"I needed to stop that."
Ethan felt sick.
"Stop me?"
Richard nodded slowly.
"The Ashford family has survived for generations because every member understands one thing."
"What?"
"Personal feelings cannot come before responsibility."
Ethan stared at him.
"So Claire was a problem."
"No."
Richard's voice softened.
"Claire was a risk."
Ethan laughed.
A painful laugh.
"My wife is not a business decision."
"To you."
Richard looked at him.
"But to this family, everything has consequences."
At that moment, Ethan understood something.
His father had never hated Claire.
That would have been easier.
No.
Richard feared her.
Because Claire was the one person who made Ethan question everything.
The one person who could make him walk away from the Ashford empire.
Meanwhile, Claire sat in the hospital room.
Alone.
The doctors had warned her stress could affect the baby.
But how could she stay calm?
Her entire life had become a question.
Who was telling the truth?
Who was lying?
A knock came at the door.
Claire looked up.
She expected Ethan.
But it was Eleanor.
Claire immediately became alert.
"What do you want?"
Eleanor entered slowly.
For once, she did not look powerful.
She looked tired.
"You hate me."
Claire stared.
"You pushed me down a staircase."
"I know."
"And you expect me not to hate you?"
Eleanor looked away.
"No."
A strange silence followed.
Then Eleanor said:
"But you should know something."
Claire frowned.
"What?"
"I didn't create the recording."
Claire said nothing.
"I know."
Eleanor looked surprised.
"You know?"
Claire nodded.
"Because you're not smart enough to hide something that obvious."
For the first time, Eleanor almost smiled.
Almost.
"Then why are you here?"
Eleanor looked toward the window.
"Because I know who did."
Claire's expression changed.
"Who?"
Eleanor hesitated.
That hesitation told Claire everything.
It was someone powerful.
Someone close.
"Your father-in-law."
Claire froze.
"Richard?"
Eleanor nodded.
"But not because he wanted to protect me."
"Then why?"
Eleanor looked at her.
"Because he wanted Ethan to hate you."
Claire's heart tightened.
"Why?"
"Because he believed if Ethan saw you as a mistake, he would return to the family."
Claire stared.
The answer was terrible.
But it made sense.
Then Eleanor added:
"There's something else."
"What?"
She reached into her bag.
She placed a small envelope on the table.
Claire looked at it.
"What is this?"
"The truth about your marriage."
Claire opened it.
Inside was a document.
A private agreement.
Signed eight years ago.
Between Richard Ashford...
And Claire's father.
Claire's hands began shaking.
"My father?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Your marriage was never an accident."
The room felt smaller.
"What are you saying?"
Eleanor whispered:
"You were chosen."
Claire looked at the document.
A name.
A signature.
A date.
Everything changed.
At that exact moment, Ethan discovered something else.
While searching Richard's office, he found a hidden drawer.
Inside was a file marked:
PROJECT CLAIRE.
His blood turned cold.
Because underneath the title...
Was a photograph.
A photograph of Claire.
Taken before they ever met.
The enemy had never been outside the family.
The enemy had been inside all along.
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End of Chapter 9
Next: Chapter 10 – The Truth About the Baby
Claire learns why Richard watched her family for years. Ethan discovers the terrifying reason behind "Project Claire," and the danger surrounding Claire's pregnancy becomes more than an accident.
