Chapter 5

The living room was deathly silent.

Ethan's hand, holding the phone, suddenly froze in mid-air.

He slowly turned his head, his eyes landing on the black coat I was wearing, then on the mud that still hadn't been wiped off my cuffs.

He finally seemed to realize what was going on. "Impossible."

His voice shook. "Claire, tell Ryan not to play this kind of joke on me!"

Ethan stared at me, "Claire, say something! Tell me this is all just a show to pressure me into investing. Say it."

I met his gaze, saying nothing.

Even now, he still instinctively…