“And that is where Ethan came in,” Rose said, casting a cold look at my ex-fiancé.

Ethan stood near the fireplace, his face pale and his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

He wouldn’t look at me.

“Claire knew Ethan was drowning in debt from his failed development projects,” Daniel said.

“She approached him with a proposition,” Daniel said.

“She offered to clear his debts if he helped her secure the deed,” Daniel said.

“But he couldn’t just buy it,” I said, the pieces finally falling into place.

“No,” Daniel said. “Claire orchestrated your engagement to Ethan.”

“She knew that once you were married, Ethan would have legal access to your share of the estate,” Daniel said.

“He could convince you to sign the papers to transfer the title into his shell company,” Daniel said.

“And once the transfer was complete, the old fraud would be buried forever under a new corporate entity,” Daniel said.

I looked at Ethan, my chest heaving with anger.

“Is that true, Ethan?” I asked.

Ethan cleared his throat, but his voice was dry.

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” he muttered.