Chapter 7: The First Wife
"My father had a first wife?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Before your mother.""
I stared at him.
"Why have I never heard about her?""
"Because your father erased almost everything.""
"Why?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because he was protecting you.""
That phrase had become unbearable.
Everyone kept claiming to protect me while building walls around my life.
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
I held up the note.
"You know the name.""
Daniel looked at it.
"Yes.""
"Then tell me.""
Before he could answer, Ethan said, "Don't.""
I turned.
"You're telling me not to look for the woman who has evidence about your crimes?""
"I'm telling you she isn't safe.""
"Neither am I.""
Chloe walked toward me.
"Claire.""
I looked at her.
"I want to help.""
Ethan snapped, "Stay out of this.""
She flinched.
Then said, "You used me.""
"I never said—"
"You told me Claire was leaving because she couldn't have children.""
Ethan said nothing.
"You told me you were going to build a family with me.""
Margaret interrupted.
"Chloe, enough.""
Chloe shook her head.
"No.""
She wiped her tears.
"I don't know what Ethan told you, Claire, but I found something else.""
She pulled a flash drive from her purse.
"Ethan kept this in a locked drawer.""
He moved toward her.
I stepped between them.
"Don't.""
Chloe handed it to me.
"There's video.""
"What kind?""
"Meetings.""
Ethan stared at her.
"You don't know what you're doing.""
"I know exactly what I'm doing now.""
We plugged the drive into my laptop.
The first video showed Ethan in a private office.
Across from him sat Marcus Bell.
The date was eighteen months earlier.
Marcus spoke first.
"Once Claire signs the revised trust documents, the shares transfer.""
Ethan replied, "She won't sign them.""
"Then create a reason.""
"What kind of reason?""
Marcus leaned forward.
"Make her look unstable.""
My blood turned cold.
The video continued.
Ethan said, "Her infertility makes her emotional.""
Marcus laughed.
"Exactly.""
I stared at the screen.
Nora had arrived by then, and she stood beside me.
She whispered, "Oh my God.""
Another clip.
Margaret.
Talking to a doctor.
"Just tell people Claire can't carry a pregnancy.""
The doctor asked, "But she can.""
Margaret slid an envelope across the desk.
"After what I am paying you, that won't matter.""
My stomach turned.
I remembered every appointment.
Every time doctors told me there was no medical reason I couldn't conceive.
Every time Margaret insisted there had to be.
I had believed I was broken.
They had paid someone to make me believe it.
I closed the laptop.
No one spoke.
Then Ethan said quietly, "I didn't know about the doctor.""
I looked at him.
"You expect me to care what you knew?""
He looked at the floor.
"You've been lying to me for years.""
"I loved you.""
"You loved what I could give you.""
He didn't answer.
Nora picked up the laptop.
"Claire, we need lawyers.""
"Yes.""
Daniel nodded.
"I know one.""
"Get him.""
He pulled out his phone.
Then stopped.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"The first wife.""
"What about her?""
"I found an old address.""
I looked at him.
"Where?""
"Galveston.""
I grabbed my coat.
"We're going.""
Ethan said, "Claire, wait.""
I turned.
He looked genuinely frightened.
"She isn't what you think.""
"Neither were you.""
We drove south before dawn.
The sky was pale by the time we reached the address.
It was a modest white house overlooking the water.
An elderly woman opened the door.
Gray hair.
Sharp eyes.
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then whispered:
"You're Claire.""
I froze.
"How do you know me?""
She looked past me toward Daniel.
Then opened the door wider.
"Your father promised you would come one day.""
I stepped inside.
Photographs covered the walls.
My father was in several of them.
So was a young woman I had never seen.
And in one photograph, a baby boy rested in her arms.
I looked closer.
The baby had Ethan's eyes.
The woman closed the door.
"I'm Evelyn Hale.""
My heartbeat stopped.
"But Margaret said you died.""
May you like
Evelyn gave a tired smile.
"Margaret has been lying about that for twenty-eight years.""