She Called Her Sister In Law, I Called Her My Replacement Chapter 08

She Called Her Sister In Law, I Called Her My Replacement Chapter 08

The lawyer moved fast. 

Within three days, they had traced the entire financial trail to Morgan’s cousin. 

The posting account, the call records to the Hayes relatives, the payments to the social media accounts–all of it came from the same source. 

Hailey sent me the report while I was working 

on a client’s quarterly tax filing. 

“It’s done. Everything went through the cousin’s card. But the authorization and direction came from Morgan herself.” 

I didn’t feel much of anything. 

Not because I didn’t care. But because from 

the second Morgan sat in that cafe and talked to me in that voice, I already knew what was coming. 

That afternoon, Nolan’s assistant called. Said 

Nolan wanted to see me. 

I said no. 

The assistant hesitated, then said Nolan told him to let me know he’d already made the Hayes relatives publicly retract all their accusations. He’d 

also cover the full losses from the office being 

shut down. 

I said talk to my lawyer about compensation. 

Not me. 

After I hung up, Hailey looked at me. 

“He’s trying to make up for it.” 

“His making up always comes one step after 

his damage.” 

Hailey didn’t say anything else. 

Two more days passed. Nolan showed up 

outside the office building. 

over. 

When he saw me come out, he didn’t walk 

I didn’t walk over to him either. 

I went to the corner store and bought a bottle 

of water. When I came out, he was still standing 

there. 

Finally, he spoke. 

me say something? 

“Claire. Would you let 

The day of the crash-” 

“I know.” 

I cut him off. 

He blinked. 

I said, “You saw me first. Your hand was 

already on my door. Then you turned and went to 

the back seat.” 

His eyes turned red. 

“Morgan… she watched Daniel die in that car. 

The only thing in my head was–I couldn’t let her 

see that again.” 

I said, “So you chose for her not to see it. And 

left me trapped inside.” 

His voice jumped. “That’s not-” 

I said, quiet, “Nolan. You weren’t saving her. 

You were saving yourself from your own guilt. You never got over your brother’s death. You thought taking care of Morgan meant you were living for 

him. But you forgot you already had a family of 

your own.” 

He was quiet for a very long time. 

“I didn’t 

think you’d actually leave.” 

That sentence made my chest ache. 

thought I’d always understand. Always forgive. 

Always make excuses for you. Right?” 

He didn’t answer. 

But his face did. 

“You 

He thought I’d always stay right where he left me. 

That’s why he kept walking toward someone else. 

He pulled a key out of his pocket. 

“The 

safe key. I put everything from the baby in there. I 

went through it all again. The ultrasound photos. 

The hospital bracelet. The lock of hair. And the 

silver bracelet.” 

He set the key on the bench under the bus 

stop sign. 

“The silver got scratched. I asked 

the jeweler. He can fix it, but the engraving will 

have marks from the polish.” 

I picked up the key and put it in my pocket. 

He said, “I also want to have a memorial 

service for him. If you want to. You pick the time 

and place. If you don’t want me there, I won’t 

come.” 

I shook my head. 

memorial myself.” 

“No. I’ll handle his 

His lip trembled. 

“Then what can I do?” 

I looked at him. 

That face. I’d looked at it for three years. Used 

to think it was so handsome. 

Soft eyes. Slow, careful words. When he 

smiled a little at the corner of his mouth, I thought 

the whole world was steady. 

But now I saw someone who had been 

running away the whole time. 

He wrapped his running in gentleness. 

Painted his favoritism as loyalty. 

And I paid for that fake gentleness with my baby. My dignity. Three years of my life. 

bag. 

I pulled the signed divorce papers out of my 

“What you can do is sign this.” 

His fingers touched the edge of the paper. He 

didn’t open it. 

“Claire.” 

“Yeah.” 

“What if I said I’d give you back every place 

that should have been yours-” 

“Nolan.” 

I cut him off again. 

“That place was 

always supposed to be mine. You’re not giving it 

back. You never should have taken it in the first 

place.” 

His hand dropped away from the papers. 

I put them back in my bag. 

“You don’t 

have to sign right now. Think it over and talk to my 

lawyer.” 

I turned and walked back inside.