Chapter 8
Nathan’s coldness cracked into anger.
“You think you understand what medical school costs?” he snapped at Claire.
She stared at him.
For years, she would have apologized at that tone.
Now she heard panic in it.
“You told me tuition wasn’t covered,” she said.
Nathan looked away.
“You don’t know how complicated funding is.”
Michael said, “It was not complicated.”
Nathan turned on him.
“Stay out of my marriage.”
Claire’s voice came before Michael could answer.
“You ended the marriage.”
Nathan froze.
She held up the envelope.
“In writing.”
The crowd nearby went silent enough that the wind through the campus trees became audible.
Nathan lowered his voice.
“Claire, let’s talk somewhere private.”
The request came too late.
Private was where Nathan had always won.
Private was where he explained.
Softened.
Redirected.
Made her feel cruel for doubting him.
Claire looked at Michael’s folder.
Then at Nathan.
“No.”
It was one word.
May you like
But for Nathan, it sounded like losing control.
Read the full story 👉 Nathan wanted privacy only after witnesses appeared, but Claire finally refused to return to the place where his lies worked best.
