Chapter 4 - The Call from Ethan
Inside the silent waterfront dining room, Evelyn’s smartphone sitting on the linen tablecloth lit up with a glowing incoming call screen displaying the name "ETHAN".
Claire looked down at the vibrating phone, her eyes stoic, calm, and completely unfazed by Evelyn’s furious glares.
"You forgot one thing, Evelyn," Claire said in a quiet, steady voice that carried over the hushed whispers of the dinner guests. "Ethan already knows."
Evelyn’s hand froze mid-air as she looked from the vibrating phone to the itemized bill resting on her plate.
Her eyes scanned the bold numbers printed on the paper:
RESERVE VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE (6 BOTTLES): $18,000
GRAND SEAFOOD TOWER & CAVIAR: $14,000
PRIVATE DINING ROOM EXCLUSIVITY FEE: $4,000
UNPAID PRIOR BALANCE & FORGED ACCOUNT RECOVERY: $12,000
TOTAL DUE: $48,000
"Ethan wouldn't allow you to do this to me!" Evelyn whispered frantically, picking up the phone with shaking fingers to answer the call on speaker mode.
Ethan’s voice came through the speaker, crisp, clear, and completely devoid of warmth:
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"Mom, don't call me. The $12,000 you stole from our house fund is included on that invoice. Pay my wife for the dinner tonight, or the police report for forgery goes live at midnight."
👉 Read Part 5 to see Claire reveal her true ownership status to the entire table.
