He Asked Me To Wait, I Asked For A Divorce Chapter 07

By then, the Navy officers had finished reviewing all the evidence. Their expressions were grim.

One closed the file and looked at me. “Ms. Bennett, we failed to verify the complaint properly before coming here, and that caused you unnecessary distress. On behalf of the inquiry, I apologize

Lieutenant Mercer’s decision to submit allegations that appear to be false raises serious conduct issues. We’ll verify the full record immediately and refer the matter through his chain of command for appropriate action.”

He paused and looked at Richard and Denise. “We’ll also report the family’s property issue and repeated harassment to the command, since it directly relates to the complaint he filed.

Richard’s knees nearly buckled.

His son’s career mattered more to him than anything. He had thought getting close to the Whitmore family would put Gavin on a fast track. Instead, their scheme had blown up in their faces and dragged Gavin’s career down with it.

Sloane couldn’t stay another second. She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. As she passed Richard, she said coldly, “Tell your son never to contact me again.

And if my father hears the full story, Gavin is going to have much bigger problems than losing me.”

She walked out without looking back, her heels striking the hallway in a fast, uneven rhythm.

The deputy took a sobbing Denise with him. The Navy officers left soon afterward, but not before telling Angela they would issue a formal clarification for me as soon as the review was complete.

At last, the apartment was quiet.

Mom came out of the kitchen still gripping the chef’s knife. Her hand was shaking. She had held herself together while everyone was here because she was terrified someone would hurt me, but once they were gone, tears spilled down her face. “Claire, are you okay?

They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”

“Mom, I’m fine.” I took the knife from her hand and rubbed her back gently. “It’s handled. They

won’t be able to come here and bully us like this again.”

Angela sighed and rested a hand on my shoulder. “Claire, you didn’t deserve any of this.

The Rising Entrepreneur selection is still moving forward. Your work stands on its own, and a

smear campaign doesn’t change that.

If you run into trouble, call the Women’s Enterprise Center.”

After Angela left, several of the Navy spouses from my workshop crowded around me, talking over

one another as they tried to cheer me up.

Claire, that was incredible. Denise couldn’t get a single word past you by the end.”

“Seriously, the Mercers have treated you horribly. Thank God you kept the receipts.”

“If they show up again, they can deal with all of us.”

I looked at their sincere faces and felt warmth spread through my chest.

In my last life, I’d been trapped in the Mercer family home with no one I could really talk to Everyone acted as if being Gavin’s wife meant whatever happened to me was simply part of the deal.

This time, I’d walked out of that fire and somehow found women who understood exactly what it

meant to build a life of their own.

We were still talking when the doorbell rang again.

I thought the Mercers had sent someone else. When I opened the door, it was Owen.

A fine sheen of sweat covered his forehead, and he carried a document envelope. He took one look at the crowded room and stopped. “I heard down at the docks that something happened over here, so I came to check on you.

Everything okay?”

“It’s fine. It’s all handled.” I let him in and gave him a quick version of what had happened.

Owen’s brows pulled tight. “Gavin is an active-duty officer and he filed a false complaint like that?

That’s low.

Want me to put together a signed statement with the purchase dates and our business records? That way they can’t twist anything later.”

“I think we have enough.” I smiled. “The Navy officers understand what happened now. Thanks for

coming all the way over.”

He waved it off. “Of course.

Your products are good, and you’ve always dealt straight with me. I trust you.

The orders are only going to get bigger. If there’s something I can do to help, ask.”