But only for eleven weeks.
Before that, there was an unexplained twenty-month gap.
Naomi clicked another file.
“Stratton Advisory has received thirty-four million dollars in consulting fees connected to Meridian over the past eighteen months.”
Ethan stared.
“That can’t be right.”
“It is.”
Lauren looked at him.
“When did you start sleeping with Madison?”
“Lauren.”
“Answer.”
“Late July.”
“Who initiated it?”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“Does that matter?”
“It matters if your father hired her.”
“Madison and I made our own decisions.”
Lauren nodded once.
“Then congratulations. You may have destroyed your marriage entirely on your own.”
Ethan flinched.
Lauren continued.
“But that doesn’t mean nobody benefited.”
Detective Mitchell spoke carefully.
“Mr. Cole, was Ms. Vale with you immediately before her crash?”
“Yes.”
“Was she upset?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
Ethan glanced at Lauren.
“Us.”
Lauren knew immediately he was lying.
Not completely.
But enough.
Detective Mitchell knew too.
