Chapter 4: The Truth Claire Buried
Olivia and I sat in a quiet corner of the hospital cafeteria.
I didn’t touch my coffee.
Neither did she.
“You knew Emily?””
Olivia nodded.
“She never told you about me?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“That doesn’t surprise me.””
I studied her face.
“How did you find me?””
Olivia pulled out her phone.
She showed me a message.
The same unknown number.
The same account.
But this time, there was a name attached.
Emily Carter.
My hands went cold.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Emily is dead.””
Olivia nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then how are you sending messages?””
She looked at me.
“I’m not.””
The room went silent.
“Then who is?””
Olivia hesitated.
“Someone who wants you to find the truth.””
I leaned forward.
“Start talking.””
She took a deep breath.
“Emily didn’t die the way you think.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you saying?””
“She was sick. But she was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
Olivia looked toward the hospital hallway.
“Claire.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“No.””
“Emily met Claire before you did.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew her.””
Olivia opened her phone.
There was an old photo.
Emily.
Claire.
Standing together.
My entire world shifted.
“When was this taken?””
“Two months before Emily died.””
I stared at the picture.
“No.””
Olivia’s voice softened.
“Marcus, your wife wasn’t just a stranger who entered your life after Emily passed away.””
I looked at her.
“She was already in it.””
I left the hospital and drove home without remembering the drive.
Claire was sitting in the living room.
Waiting.
She knew.
The moment I walked in, she knew.
“You met Olivia.””
It wasn’t a question.
I stopped.
“How do you know her name?””
Claire’s face lost color.
“I…”
“You knew Emily.””
Silence.
“You knew my wife.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“Marcus.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“How long?””
She stood.
“I can explain.””
“How long did you know her?””
“Years.””
I felt sick.
“You came into my life because of her?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
Claire started crying.
And for the first time, I didn’t know if the tears were real.
“Because I was trying to help her.””
“Help her?””
“She was scared.””
“Of what?””
Claire looked at me.
“Your daughter.””
I stepped back.
“What?””
“Maya.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“You’re blaming my child?””
“No. I’m saying Emily was unstable.””
My fists tightened.
“Don’t.””
“She was sick. She thought everyone was against her.””
“Emily loved Maya.””
“Yes,” Claire whispered.
“Too much.””
That sentence stayed between us.
A terrible sentence.
A revealing sentence.
“What did you do?””
Claire looked away.
“I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
She didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
Her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Then immediately rejected the call.
But not before I saw the name.
Emily.
My blood ran cold.
“Why is my dead wife calling you?””
Claire said nothing.
The phone rang again.
This time, I grabbed it.
I answered.
There was silence.
Then a voice.
A woman’s voice.
A voice I hadn’t heard in six years.
“Marcus?””
My knees almost gave out.
Because I knew that voice.
It was impossible.
But it was real.
“Emily?””
The line went quiet.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“You finally found out what Claire did to me.””