Chapter 4: The Secret My Sister Buried
I stared at Emma’s message until the words stopped looking like words.
*Marcus doesn't know the baby isn't his.*
My fingers went numb.
The lawyer across from me noticed my expression.
“Claire?””
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
The room suddenly felt too small.
The walls.
The chair.
The air itself.
Everything was closing in.
I typed one sentence.
*What did you just say?*
The three dots appeared immediately.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Emma was always fast with texts.
Except when she was afraid.
And right now, she was afraid.
My phone rang.
I didn't answer.
It rang again.
Daniel watched me carefully.
“Do you need a moment?””
I looked at him.
“No.””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
“I need the truth.””
He nodded slowly.
“Then you need to speak with your sister.””
I looked down at the divorce documents.
At my sister's signature.
At the proof that someone I loved had been involved in destroying my life.
“Was she here?”” I asked.
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
“My sister.””
He glanced at the papers.
“Emma Bennett came with Mr. Hale when these documents were prepared.””
My heart dropped.
“She was there?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“About six weeks ago.””
Six weeks.
The same time Marcus decided our marriage was already over.
The same time he was pretending everything was normal.
I stood up.
“Where is he?””
Daniel looked confused.
“Who?””
“Marcus.””
“I don't know.””
I picked up my phone.
This time, I called him.
He answered quickly.
“Claire?””
His voice carried surprise.
Maybe he expected anger.
Maybe he expected tears.
He didn't expect calm.
“Did you know?””
A pause.
“Know what?””
I laughed quietly.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
It was because I finally understood how many times I had been lied to.
“Did you know Emma helped you prepare the divorce?””
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then:
“Claire—”
“That wasn't a denial.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
I walked out of the office.
People passed by me in expensive suits, carrying coffee cups and briefcases.
Everyone looked normal.
Everyone's world was intact.
Mine wasn't.
“How long were you planning this?””
Marcus sighed.
“I didn't want it to happen this way.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“Claire.””
“How long?””
Another pause.
“Two months.””
I stopped walking.
Two months.
Two months ago, he took me to dinner for our anniversary.
Two months ago, he held my hand across the table and told me he couldn't wait to meet our son.
“You celebrated our anniversary while preparing to leave me?””
“I was confused.””
“No.””
My voice sharpened.
“You were selfish.””
“Don't do this.””
“Do what?””
“Turn me into a monster.””
I closed my eyes.
“Marcus, you don't need my help with that.””
The line went quiet.
Then he said:
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
“That's the only thing you keep saying.””
“Because it's true.””
“No.””
I looked out the office window.
The city stretched below me.
Millions of people living ordinary lives.
People who weren't finding out their husband, mother-in-law, sister, and lawyer had all been keeping secrets.
“You wanted to avoid feeling guilty.””
His voice softened.
“Claire.””
“No.””
I swallowed.
“You wanted to leave without admitting what you did.””
“That's not fair.””
I smiled bitterly.
“Funny.””
“What?””
“You used to say I was the fairest person you knew.””
Another silence.
Then:
“Who told you about the baby?””
My body froze.
I lowered the phone.
Slowly.
“Why did you ask that?””
“Claire.””
“No.””
I gripped the phone.
“You answer me.””
“It's complicated.””
My stomach tightened.
“No, Marcus.””
I whispered.
“It isn't.””
I looked at the paperwork in my hand.
At Emma's name.
At everything falling apart.
“It's either yes or no.””
He didn't speak.
That was enough.
“Did you know before tonight?””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
I believed him.
Not because I trusted him.
Because I knew Marcus.
When he lied, he delayed.
When he was scared, he answered immediately.
“What did Emma tell you?””
“She didn't tell me anything.””
“Then why did you ask?””
No response.
My heart started pounding.
“Marcus.””
Finally:
“Because Vivian said something.””
Of course.
“About what?””
He exhaled.
“She said there were things about your past I didn't know.””
I felt cold.
“My past?””
“Yes.””
“What things?””
“I don't know.””
“You believed her?””
“I didn't say that.””
“You asked if the baby was mine.””
Silence.
And that was the answer.
I hung up.
I found Emma sitting outside my apartment.
She looked like she hadn't slept.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
“Claire.””
I didn't hug her.
I didn't cry.
I just stared.
“Tell me everything.””
Her face collapsed.
“I'm sorry.””
“That isn't an answer.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
“Six weeks ago, you helped Marcus prepare divorce papers.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know he was going to do it.””
“You signed as a witness.””
“I thought he was just protecting himself.””
“Protecting himself from what?””
Emma swallowed.
“From losing everything.””
I laughed.
“Everything?””
She looked at my stomach.
“Claire…”
“No.””
I stepped inside.
“You don't get to say my name like you're the victim.””
She followed.
“I made a mistake.””
“Yes.””
“I was angry.””
I turned around.
“Angry?””
She wiped her face.
“You remember when Marcus got promoted?””
I frowned.
“What about it?””
“You told me you were thinking about taking a break from work after the baby came.””
“Yes.””
“He told me you were planning to leave him.””
I stared.
“What?””
“He said you were changing.””
My chest tightened.
The same words.
The old Claire.
The new Claire.
Everyone had been hearing his version.
“She believed him,” Emma whispered.
I looked at her.
“You did.””
Her eyes filled with shame.
“I didn't know he was cheating.””
“But you helped him leave.””
“I thought you were both unhappy.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice broke.
“I was unhappy because my husband was lying to me.””
Emma stepped closer.
“Claire, there's something else.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Vivian knew before Marcus did.””
My heart stopped.
“Knew what?””
Emma looked terrified.
“The baby.””
I felt the room tilt.
“What about the baby?””
May you like
Emma's voice dropped.
“She knew there was a possibility Marcus wasn't the father.””
