Chapter 6 - The Name Claire Had Buried
Vanessa arrived wearing sunglasses.
She sat opposite Claire and immediately removed a flash drive from her handbag.
Claire didn't touch it.
“What is it?”
“Insurance.”
“Against Adrian?”
“Against everyone.”
Claire studied her.
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn't.”
At least that answer was honest.
Vanessa looked exhausted.
The polished confidence was gone.
“Adrian told me you were nobody.”
Claire's expression remained unchanged.
“He said you had no family worth mentioning. No career. No money of your own.”
“And that made what you did acceptable?”
“No.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I wanted what you had.”
“You wanted my husband.”
“I wanted his life.”
Claire almost laughed.
“You can have it.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Not anymore.”
She pushed the drive forward.
“Elliot Crane helped Adrian move money through consulting companies. When Elliot got nervous, Adrian forced him out.”
“And you?”
“I handled communications.”
“So you're involved.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Yes.”
Claire appreciated the admission more than an excuse.
“Why tell me?”
“Because Adrian will blame me.”
“He probably should.”
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“You think he won't blame you too?”
Claire said nothing.
“He used your signatures because your family name gave the transactions credibility with certain lenders.”
“My family name wasn't public.”
“Adrian discovered it eighteen months ago.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
Vanessa nodded.
“He knew.”
That changed everything.
Claire had believed Adrian's shock when she revealed her identity.
Perhaps some of it had been real.
But apparently not all of it.
“How?”
“He hired someone to investigate you.”
Claire felt physically cold.
“And he never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because once he knew who your father was, divorcing you became complicated.”
Claire looked at the flash drive.
“And now?”
“Now he thought he had enough leverage.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“What leverage?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said:
“The forged documents.”
Claire understood.
Adrian had not merely forged her signature to protect himself.
He had built evidence that could be used against her.
The divorce papers had never been an emotional decision.
They had been part of a plan.
Claire took the flash drive.
Vanessa exhaled.
“There are emails, transfers, recordings, everything.”
“Why keep them?”
“Because I never trusted him.”
Claire stood.
Vanessa caught her wrist gently.
“One more thing.”
Claire looked down at her hand.
Vanessa immediately released her.
“The baby.”
Claire waited.
Vanessa's eyes filled with something Claire had never seen before.
Shame.
“Adrian isn't the father.”
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