Chapter 10 - THE OTHER WIFEHer name was Evelyn.

She had once been married to a wealthy businessman named Thomas Reed.

“For two years,” Evelyn said, “I thought Vanessa was my husband's affair partner.”

“What happened?”

“I confronted them.”

“And?”

“They both laughed.”

My stomach tightened.

“They already knew about me.”

She showed me photographs.

Vanessa at charity events.

Vanessa at business dinners.

Vanessa beside another man.

Then another.

Different families.

Different cities.

Same pattern.

“She targeted wealthy marriages,” Evelyn said.

“How many?”

“Seven that I know of.”

I stared at the photographs.

Ryan wasn't Vanessa's first target.

Maybe he wasn't even her employer.

“Who hired her?”

Evelyn shook her head.

“I never found out.”

“But Margaret said Ryan hired her.”

“Margaret is lying.”

“Why?”

“Because Ryan wasn't the mastermind.”

Silence.

“Then who?”

Evelyn looked at me.

“Your father-in-law.”

I froze.

“My father-in-law has been dead for three years.”

“Yes.”

“Then how?”

“He isn't.”

I stared at her.

“What?”

“He faked his death.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Evelyn pulled out a newspaper clipping.

A death announcement.

Richard Miller.

Cause of death: heart failure.

But beside it was another photograph.

Richard Miller entering a private airport.

Taken six months later.

I looked at the date.

After his supposed death.

“This is impossible.”

“No.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“Richard controls the family trust.”

“But Ryan runs the company.”

“Ryan thinks he does.”

My mind raced.

Then suddenly everything clicked.

The money.

The fake medical records.

Vanessa.

The inheritance.

The hidden account.

This wasn't Ryan's operation.

Ryan was an asset.

A son being manipulated by his father.

I asked:

“Where is Richard?”

Evelyn hesitated.

“I don't know.”

“Then how do you know he's alive?”

“Because he contacted me last month.”

My stomach dropped.

“What did he say?”

“That Vanessa had moved on to a new target.”

“Me?”

She nodded.

“He warned me to stay away.”

I stood.

“Why would he warn you?”

“Because he knew what was coming.”

“What was coming?”

Before she could answer, glass shattered in the kitchen.

We both froze.

Evelyn grabbed my arm.

“Someone's here.”

We ran toward the back door.

A shadow moved outside.

I pulled Evelyn with me.

Then footsteps.

Fast.

Someone was chasing us.

We reached the alley.

A black car screamed around the corner.

I pushed Evelyn against the wall.

The car stopped.

The passenger window rolled down.

Ryan.

He stared at me.

Then looked at Evelyn.

His face changed.

“You found her.”

Evelyn whispered:

“Run.”

Ryan stepped out.

“Claire, get in the car.”

“No.”

He smiled.

“You really don't understand.”

“Understand what?”

“This isn't about money.”

“Then what?”

He looked toward Evelyn.

“She knows.”

“What does she know?”

Ryan didn't answer.

Evelyn suddenly screamed:

“He's using your baby!”

Ryan lunged forward.

I stepped back.

“What does that mean?”

Evelyn shouted:

“The inheritance isn't just money!”

Ryan grabbed her.

I screamed.

“Let her go!”

Then a second car appeared.

Nathan jumped out.

He slammed Ryan against the wall.

“You don't touch her.”

For several seconds, everyone froze.

Ryan looked at Nathan.

Then smiled.

“You should have stayed away.”

Nathan punched him.

Police sirens approached.

Ryan ran.

But before he disappeared around the corner, he shouted:

“Claire!”

I turned.

He said:

“Ask your mother why Richard really died.”

Then he vanished into the darkness.

I stood frozen.

My mother.

I hadn't spoken to her in seven months.

The last time I had seen her, she had refused to attend my baby shower.

I thought she was angry with me.

Now I wondered whether she knew something.

I called her.

No answer.

I called again.

Still nothing.

Then a text appeared.

Not from her.

From an unknown number.

YOUR MOTHER ISN'T THE ONE YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT.

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Another message followed.

THE BABY ISN'T YOURS.