Chapter 4 - CLAIRE WAS NOT THE WOMAN I THOUGHT SHE WAS
I met Claire three days after Evelyn was born.
She came alone.
No Roman.
No security.
No assistants.
She stood outside my townhouse holding a small envelope.
I almost didn't let her in.
But something told me I needed to hear what she had to say.
“Why are you here?”
She looked exhausted.
“I need to tell you the truth.”
“You had plenty of opportunities.”
“I know.”
I stepped aside.
She entered.
Her eyes immediately went toward the nursery.
“She's beautiful.”
I crossed my arms.
“Don't.”
Claire looked at me.
“I'm not here to take anything from you.”
“You already took enough.”
Her face tightened.
“Yes.”
She accepted it.
“I did.”
We sat across from each other.
Claire placed the envelope on the table.
“My grandfather was Richard Vale.”
“I know.”
She looked surprised.
“Who told you?”
“Eleanor.”
Claire's face went pale.
“She found you.”
“She came to the hospital.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“Then you know some of it.”
“Not enough.”
Claire looked down.
“My grandfather was Roman's father's closest financial adviser.”
“I know.”
“He discovered money was disappearing from several Carter accounts.”
“Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't anyone stop him?”
“They tried.”
“What happened?”
“My grandfather died.”
I stared at her.
“You think Thomas killed him?”
“I don't know.”
That honesty mattered.
Claire continued.
“My grandfather left evidence.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I found part of it.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a flash drive.
I stared at it.
“What is this?”
“Emails.”
“From who?”
“Roman's father.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do they say?”
“That Thomas was using the Carter family trust.”
“For what?”
“To move money.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
I looked at the flash drive.
“And Roman?”
“He didn't know.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Claire looked directly into my eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas used me.”
My expression hardened.
“You chose to sleep with my husband.”
“I did.”
“You knew he was married.”
“Yes.”
“Then don't tell me you were innocent.”
“I wasn't.”
Her voice cracked.
“I was selfish.”
She looked down.
“But I didn't know what Thomas was doing.”
I stayed silent.
“He told me Roman was going to leave you.”
“He told me that too.”
“I believed him.”
“So did I.”
Claire looked at me.
“That's why he won.”
The words stayed with me.
Because they were true.
Thomas hadn't needed to force us apart.
He only needed to make Roman and me believe the worst about each other.
I picked up the flash drive.
“Why give me this?”
“Because I found out what he wanted.”
“What?”
“Your daughter.”
My blood ran cold.
“What about her?”
“The trust activates when the first child is born.”
“Yes.”
“Thomas needs control of that trust.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever controls those shares controls a large part of the Carter empire.”
I stared at her.
“He wants my daughter to be a financial weapon.”
“Yes.”
My stomach twisted.
“How did he know about the pregnancy?”
“Roman's files.”
“Who had access?”
“Thomas.”
Silence.
I looked toward the nursery.
Evelyn was asleep.
Completely unaware that adults were fighting over pieces of paper connected to her future.
Claire stood.
“I should go.”
I looked at her.
“Why did you really come?”
She hesitated.
“Because I couldn't live with what I had done.”
I expected myself to hate her.
Instead, I felt something else.
Pity.
Not forgiveness.
Not friendship.
Just the understanding that everyone in this story had made choices.
Some worse than others.
Claire reached the door.
Then she turned.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Roman's father left a letter.”
“Where?”
“His old lake house.”
I frowned.
“Why didn't you tell Roman?”
“Because Thomas has people watching him.”
I stared at her.
“You think Roman is in danger?”
“I think everyone who gets close to the truth is.”
That night, Roman called.
“I need to see you.”
“Why?”
“Thomas knows you have the flash drive.”
I froze.
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
“He called me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said if I continue investigating, people I love will get hurt.”
I looked toward the nursery.
“Roman…”
“I know.”
His voice was quiet.
“I should have protected you before.”
“You can't protect me by controlling me.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“Tell you the truth.”
I waited.
“I love you.”
My eyes closed.
“I know.”
“I don't expect that to change anything.”
“It doesn't.”
“I know.”
Then he said something that surprised me.
“I'm going to sign the divorce papers.”
I opened my eyes.
“What?”
“You shouldn't have to stay married to me while I figure out who I am.”
“Roman…”
“I love you enough to let you go.”
He hung up.
I sat there for a long time.
Then I looked at the flash drive.
And suddenly, I knew what I had to do.
If Thomas wanted a war over my daughter's future, he had made one mistake.
May you like
He had assumed I was still the woman who waited for Roman to come home.
He had no idea who motherhood had turned me into.
