Each rumor tightened the knot in Maggie’s chest. She stopped trusting her own memories, piecing her marriage into stitches, wondering which ones were whole. Daniel’s laughter felt now like an echo in a large, empty room. She longed for a single clear answer: had he betrayed her, or had he protected her as he said?
As the months ticked by, claims did arrive. Letters from small lenders, a late claim from a contractor who said Daniel had guaranteed a job years ago, an ambiguous notice from a bank where a business Daniel had once advised defaulted. Each claim required verification and payment when valid. The trust’s funds were being counted against them.