Chapter 4

Friday arrived. I spent the day cooking, my hands on autopilot while my mind was a razor's edge. I made lasagna, Chloe's favorite, a fact Ethan had let slip once. A small detail, but it mattered.

They arrived together, holding hands. Chloe was wearing a simple blue dress. She looked less nervous this time.

I'm so glad she invited me back, her thoughts whispered into my mind. Maybe Ethan was wrong about her. Maybe she's starting to like me.

We sat down to eat. The conversation was light at first. I asked about Chloe's classes, her part-time waitressing job. She spoke passionately about her patients at the hospital where she was training.

Ethan steered the conversation. "Mom was so impressed with you the other day, Chloe. She wants to make sure we have a solid future."

I saw my opening. I put down my fork and looked at them both, my expression one of motherly concern.

"Ethan told me about the... financial requirements for your marriage," I began, keeping my tone gentle.

Chloe's face fell instantly. Her thoughts screamed in my head.

Oh no. Here it is. This is so humiliating. I can't believe she's bringing this up at the dinner table.

She looked at Ethan, a flash of panic in her eyes.

I continued, looking directly at Chloe. "I want you to know, I understand these things can be complicated. A $150,000 loan is a big commitment for anyone to co-sign."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Chloe stared at me, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Co-sign? What loan?"

Ethan froze, a piece of garlic bread halfway to his mouth. "Mom, what are you talking about?"

"The business venture," I said, feigning my own confusion. "Ethan said you told him I wouldn't let him marry you unless your parents co-signed a $150,000 loan for some business venture he's starting. He said your family didn't have that kind of money and that it was causing a lot of stress."

Chloe's head whipped around to face Ethan. Her inner voice was no longer a whisper. It was a shout of pure shock and betrayal.

He lied to me! He told me SHE was the one making demands! He said SHE needed proof of funds from HIM!

"What?" Chloe said out loud, her voice trembling. "Ethan told me that YOU were demanding HE produce a $150,000 proof of funds to show he was worthy of me. He said your family looked down on him and that you wouldn't approve unless he proved his financial stability."

The two lies hung in the air between them, ugly and exposed.

Ethan's charming facade shattered. Panic flashed across his face. He looked from me to Chloe, his mind scrambling for an escape.

"You're both confused," he stammered, forcing a laugh. "It's a misunderstanding. Wires got crossed."

"No," Chloe said, her voice now hard as steel. She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "I'm not confused at all. I finally understand everything."

She looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of horror and disgust. "You lied to me. And you lied to your own mother. You tried to play us against each other to get her money."

"Chloe, baby, sit down," Ethan pleaded, reaching for her hand. "Let's talk about this."

She snatched her hand away. "Don't touch me."

She turned to me, her eyes wet with tears. "I am so sorry, Mrs. Miller. I had no idea. The things he told me about you... they were horrible."

"I know, dear," I said softly. "And I'm sorry for the things he told me about you."

Chloe grabbed her purse. "I'm leaving."

"Chloe, wait!" Ethan yelled, standing up.

"It's over, Ethan," she said, her voice breaking. "We're done."

She walked out the front door and slammed it behind her.

Ethan stood there, stunned. Then he turned on me, his face contorted with rage.

"What did you do?" he screamed. "You ruined everything!"

"I just told the truth, Ethan," I replied, meeting his glare without flinching. "It seems the truth was enough."

He stormed out of the house, presumably to chase after her. I sat alone at the dinner table, the half-eaten lasagna growing cold. The first battle was won. But I knew the war was just beginning.