Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I didn't go home that night.
Not because I trusted Marcus.
I didn't.
Not because I forgave Evelyn.
I hadn't.
I stayed because for the first time in months, I was afraid of not knowing the truth.
And I was tired of being the last person to find out about my own life.
The Hale estate had a guest room.
The same room I had stayed in during holidays.
The same room where Evelyn once helped me choose baby names.
Now it felt like a stranger's house.
I sat on the bed with the letter in my hands.
My entire identity had changed overnight.
Claire Bennett.
Claire Whitmore.
Which one was real?
A knock came at the door.
I didn't answer.
The door opened anyway.
Marcus.
I immediately stood.
“What do you want?””
He stopped.
“I wanted to check on you.””
“I don't need you checking on me.””
“I know.””
The honesty was frustrating.
Because anger was easier when he defended himself.
He sat in the chair across from me.
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
“I was scared.””
I looked at him.
“Of what?””
“That everything I built with you wasn't real.””
I frowned.
“What?””
He looked down.
“When I found those documents, I thought maybe you knew.””
I stared.
“You thought I knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you thought I married you for money?””
His silence answered.
I laughed.
“Unbelievable.””
“I was wrong.””
“You were.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
I looked away.
“Why Vivian?””
The question came out before I could stop it.
Marcus closed his eyes.
“I don't know.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“The truth is uglier.””
I waited.
“I was angry.””
“At me?””
“At myself.””
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I found out about the Whitmore connection, and I started questioning everything.””
“That doesn't explain cheating.””
“No.””
His voice lowered.
“It doesn't.””
I studied him.
For the first time, he wasn't trying to win.
He was admitting he lost.
“I thought you were hiding something.””
“I wasn't.””
“I know.””
The answer came quickly.
That surprised me.
“When?””
“When Vivian started digging into your past.””
I froze.
“She dug?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Because she wanted information.””
“About me.””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“So the affair wasn't just an affair.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Vivian approached me because of the trust.””
The room went silent.
“Are you saying she never loved you?””
A bitter smile appeared.
“I don't think she ever cared about me.””
That should have made me happy.
It didn't.
Because I remembered the night at the hotel.
Her hand on him.
Her confidence.
Her certainty.
“She wanted my place.””
Marcus nodded.
“And your place.””
I frowned.
“My place?””
He pointed toward the papers.
“The Whitmore inheritance.””
The next morning, we received a visitor.
Daniel Reed.
The lawyer.
He arrived with a folder and a worried expression.
“I found something.””
Marcus stood immediately.
“What?””
Daniel placed the folder on the table.
“Vivian Cross has been accessing confidential information.””
“From where?””
“Hale Enterprises.””
Evelyn's face hardened.
“How?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Through someone inside.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
He hesitated.
Marcus noticed.
“Say it.””
Daniel opened the folder.
“The person providing Vivian information was Emma Bennett.””
My heart stopped.
“No.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I know.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Not Emma.
Not again.
Daniel continued.
“She wasn't doing it alone.””
My hands tightened.
“Who else?””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Then Marcus.
Then me.
“Someone from the Whitmore side.””
I frowned.
“There is no Whitmore side.””
Daniel opened another document.
“There is.””
He turned it around.
A company name.
A name I had never heard.
But one word stood out.
*Whitmore.*
“What is this?””
Daniel's voice was quiet.
“Your uncle.””
I froze.
“My uncle?””
“Yes.””
“My father had a brother?””
“Yes.””
“Why don't I know him?””
Because he was hidden.
Because someone wanted you hidden.
The words from the letter returned.
*The person closest to you may be the greatest danger.*
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Claire Whitmore.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Richard Whitmore.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Your uncle.””
Nobody in the room moved.
“I know what the Hale family has told you.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then:
“To warn you.””
“About what?””
His voice became cold.
“Your husband.””
May you like
I looked at Marcus.
“He isn't telling you everything.””
