Chapter 8

Claudia bit her lip, her eyes reflecting resentment. “What do you want from me?”

I waved my arm. “I don’t want anything from you. I’m just pointing you a way out. The choice is yours.”

As Claudia relaxed her tense facial muscles, I carried on the conversation.

“Hank lost everything but you. If I can help him turn his life around five years ago, so can you.”

Claudia caught on quickly.

“What can I do with his spare change? I wouldn’t be coming to you if I could get the money.”

“He doesn’t have anything to his name, but his mom owns a house.”

An idea came to Claudia.

Upon her return, Claudia proposed to Hank about a business venture, asking Judy to put up her house as collateral for a loan.

Judy was reluctant at first, but Claudia asserted that she could do better than I, especially with her overseas education.

Besides, Hank was eager to prove himself. He promised to pay back everything with interest within a year, finally persuading Judy to give the go-ahead.

To t