Chapter 5: She Came to Read His Face
Callum answered immediately.
"She's here," Ethan said quietly.
"At my office.
She's never come here before."
"Don't see her alone," Callum said.
"Is there someone who can sit in with you?
A colleague, your assistant, anyone?"
"My assistant is right outside."
"Bring her in.
Keep the door open if you can.
And Ethan — let Corinne talk.
Don't ask about Eleanor.
Don't ask about the trust.
Let her say whatever she came to say."
"What did she come to say?"
"She came to see your face," Callum said.
"She wants to know if you've found anything.
So give her nothing.
Look tired.
Look worried about Maisie.
That part won't even be a lie."
The call ended.
Ethan straightened his jacket, told his assistant to stay close, and walked out to reception.
Corinne was standing near the window, dressed carefully, her expression arranged into something soft and concerned.
She opened her arms slightly when she saw him.
"I hope this is okay," she said.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing.
How Maisie was doing."
"It's fine," Ethan said.
"Come on back."
He led her to the small meeting room, left the door open, and sat across from her.
His assistant appeared in the doorway with two glasses of water and stayed near the desk outside.
"She seemed better this morning," Ethan said.
"Quieter than usual, but she ate breakfast."
Corinne nodded, watching him.
"I've been thinking about her constantly.
About both of you." She reached across the table and touched his hand briefly.
"I know things have been difficult.
I know I haven't always handled the adjustment well."
"No," Ethan said.
"You haven't."
She absorbed that without flinching.
"I want to do better.
I want to come home, Ethan.
I think distance is making everything worse."
"I'm not ready for that conversation yet."
"I understand." She folded her hands on the table.
"I just need to know we're okay.
That you're not — making any permanent decisions without talking to me first."
There it was.
Not concern for Maisie.
Not regret.
A question about permanence.
About what he might be deciding.
"I'm focused on Maisie right now," Ethan said.
"Everything else can wait."
Corinne studied him for a moment.
Then she smiled, small and careful.
"Of course.
She comes first.
She always has." She picked up the glass of water, took a sip, set it down.
"Have you spoken to Marcus recently?"
Ethan kept his face still.
"Briefly.
Why?"
"No reason.
He called me yesterday.
Left a message.
I wasn't sure if he was calling on your behalf or just checking in." She paused.
"He sounded a little strange."
"Marcus worries," Ethan said.
"He always has."
"Mm." She stood, smoothing her jacket.
"I won't keep you.
I just needed to see you." She picked up her bag.
"Oh — I was going to ask.
The cabinet in the study.
I was looking for Maisie's vaccination records last week and I couldn't find the spare key.
Do you know where it ended up?"
The room was very quiet.
"I must have moved it," Ethan said.
"I'll have a look tonight."
"No rush." She smiled again.
"Take care of yourself."
She walked out.
Ethan stayed in the chair.
Through the open door, he heard the elevator arrive and the doors close.
His assistant appeared in the doorway.
"She's gone."
"Thank you for staying close." Ethan looked at the untouched glass of water on Corinne's side of the table.
"Can you do something for me?
Don't clean that glass.
Put it somewhere safe.
Don't let anyone touch it."
His assistant looked at the glass, then at him.
She didn't ask why.
She went to the supply cupboard, came back with a clean plastic bag, and carefully lifted the glass inside without touching the rim.
Ethan called Callum again.
"She asked about the cabinet key," he said.
A short silence.
"She's checking what you know."
"She also asked about Marcus.
She knows he called me."
"Then we move faster," Callum said.
"Dana's bag — I'm picking it up this afternoon.
And the notary on that amendment?
The stamp number doesn't match any registered notary in this state."
Ethan pressed his hand flat on the table.
"The amendment is forged," Callum said.
May you like
"Which means the trust, as it currently stands, was altered without your knowledge or legal consent." A pause.
"Ethan, this is no longer just about Maisie."
