Chapter 8: The Mistress Had Her Own Secret
I stared at the photograph.
Adrian and Vanessa.
A marriage application.
Three months before I had even discovered the affair.
The room seemed to grow smaller.
“Why would Richard choose Vanessa?”” I asked.
Evelyn sat down.
“Because he believed she would do what Adrian could not.””
“Which was?””
“Convince you to surrender the inheritance voluntarily.””
I looked at the necklace photograph on my phone.
“By stealing my mother's jewelry?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Vanessa was supposed to become your friend.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She was introduced to Adrian through a business contact. Richard believed that if she gained your confidence, she could persuade you to sign the trust documents.””
Margot's expression hardened.
“And the affair?””
“A way to force Claire out of the marriage once the transfer was complete.””
I felt sick.
I remembered Vanessa attending two charity events with me.
She had complimented my dress.
Asked about my mother.
Even offered to help organize a fundraiser.
At the time, I had thought she was simply being friendly.
Now I wondered whether every conversation had been a rehearsal.
“Did she know who I was from the beginning?”” I asked.
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.””
I turned toward the window.
Rain streaked the glass.
For eleven years, I had believed Adrian's greatest betrayal was his affair.
It wasn't.
He had built an entire relationship around a lie.
And I had been the only person in the room who didn't know the script.
Thomas placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Claire, you don't have to do this alone.””
I stepped away.
“I know.””
Then I looked at Evelyn.
“Where is Vanessa now?””
“At the apartment Adrian rented for her in London.””
“Does she know you're here?””
“No.””
I picked up my coat.
“Then let's go.””
Margot frowned.
“Claire, I don't think that's wise.””
“I don't intend to argue with her.””
“What do you intend to do?””
“Ask her why she thought my mother's necklace would look better on her than it did in the box.””
We drove to a luxury apartment building in Kensington.
The concierge recognized Margot and immediately called upstairs.
Five minutes later, Vanessa appeared in the lobby.
She wore cream trousers and a white cashmere sweater.
Her hair was tied back.
Without the dramatic makeup and the cameras, she looked younger.
And much less confident.
Her eyes widened when she saw Evelyn.
“Grandmother?””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Vanessa.””
“What are you doing here?””
“Trying to stop you from making the same mistake I made.””
Vanessa's gaze shifted to me.
Then she laughed nervously.
“Oh, this is ridiculous.””
I looked at her.
“Is it?””
“Claire, I don't know what you've been told, but—”
“You knew who I was before you met me.””
She said nothing.
“You knew Adrian was married.””
“He told me the marriage was over.””
“He told you that eleven years ago?””
Vanessa's expression flickered.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
I stepped closer.
“Did you know about the inheritance?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“I'm not discussing this in a lobby.””
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before wearing my mother's necklace in front of three hundred people.””
She flushed.
“I didn't steal it.””
“Then where did you get it?””
“Adrian gave it to me.””
I held her gaze.
“He took it from my safe.””
Vanessa looked away.
I continued.
“Did you know he planned to transfer my mother's estate to Richard?””
Her face changed.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely frightened.
“Who told you that?””
I didn't answer.
She looked at Evelyn.
“Grandmother, you said you weren't going to get involved.””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“I said I would no longer help Richard.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“You don't understand. Adrian promised me everything.””
“What did he promise?””
“That once the trust was transferred, we would marry. He said he would leave you with the house and enough money to live comfortably.””
I almost laughed.
“How generous.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“He said you didn't care about the company. He said you were happy being his wife.””
I stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
She looked down.
“I loved him.””
I let the silence settle.
Then I said, “You loved a man who stole from his wife and used your family to do it.””
Vanessa flinched.
“He told me he loved me.””
“Did he tell you that when he put my mother's necklace around your neck?””
She said nothing.
I reached into my bag and removed a printed photograph.
It was the picture from the Grand Palais.
Vanessa sitting in Seat A1.
My invitation beside her.
“Do you remember this?””
She nodded.
“You were smiling.””
“I was embarrassed.””
“No. You were enjoying it.””
Her face reddened.
I put the photograph away.
“Give me the necklace.””
She touched the emeralds.
For a moment, I thought she would refuse.
Then her fingers moved toward the clasp.
She removed it and held it out.
I took it.
The emeralds felt cold against my palm.
“Thank you,” I said.
Vanessa began to cry.
“I didn't know about the forged signatures.””
I looked at her.
“Did you know about the three-point-two million dollars?””
She froze.
That was answer enough.
“Adrian said it was money from a private account.””
“Did you receive any?””
She shook her head.
Then stopped.
Her eyes moved toward Evelyn.
“I didn't know where it came from.””
I felt a new wave of anger.
“You received my mother's money?””
Vanessa whispered, “He bought me an apartment.””
Margot closed her eyes.
I took a slow breath.
“Then you will tell Olivia Grant everything you know.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Richard will destroy me.””
Evelyn took her hand.
“Not if you finally tell the truth.””
For a long moment, Vanessa stood completely still.
Then she nodded.
“I have the messages.””
I looked at her.
“What messages?””
“Adrian sent me copies of the trust documents. He told me to keep them in case anything happened to him.””
She took out her phone.
“I also have recordings.””
My heart began beating faster.
“What kind of recordings?””
Vanessa unlocked her phone and opened an audio file.
Adrian's voice filled the lobby.
“Once Claire signs the final transfer, Richard gets the archive. The trust is finished. Then I can finally get rid of the marriage.””
A second voice answered.
Vanessa's.
“And what happens to Claire?””
Adrian laughed.
“Claire will have exactly what she deserves.””
The recording continued.
Then Adrian said something that made every person in the room go silent.
“If she refuses to sign, we'll use the medical records. We can have her declared incapable of managing her own affairs.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“What medical records?””
She swallowed.
“Adrian has been collecting them for months.””
Evelyn gripped her arm.
“Vanessa, tell her everything.””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“There's another document. A doctor's report.””
“What report?””
She looked at me with terrified eyes.
“One saying you have a psychological condition that makes you unable to control your finances.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
It was a lie.
But someone had apparently prepared to make it look official.
May you like
And Adrian had already chosen the date on which he intended to use it.
Tomorrow.
