Chapter 5 - THE STRANGER AT THE CHURCHThe old church had been abandoned for years.

Broken windows.

Overgrown grass.

A rusted bell hanging above the entrance.

I parked across the street.

The children remained inside the locked car.

I stepped out alone.

A man stood beneath a dead oak tree.

Mid-forties.

Dark coat.

No umbrella despite the rain.

He looked at me.

“Claire?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Nathan.”

“Are you the one who called?”

He nodded.

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because Ryan hurt someone I loved.”

My heart tightened.

“Who?”

“My sister.”

He handed me a folder.

Inside were photographs.

Ryan.

Vanessa.

And another man.

I recognized him.

It was Ryan's business partner.

I looked up.

“What is this?”

Nathan pointed to a photograph.

“Your husband met Vanessa seventeen months ago.”

I frowned.

“That's impossible.”

“I know.”

“My affair with her started six months ago.”

“No.”

He tapped the photograph.

“That's what he wants you to believe.”

I flipped through the pictures.

Ryan and Vanessa entering hotels.

Ryan handing her envelopes.

Ryan meeting lawyers.

Ryan visiting a private clinic.

My stomach tightened.

“What is the clinic?”

“Psychiatric evaluation.”

I stopped breathing.

“Whose?”

Nathan looked at me.

“Yours.”

My blood went cold.

I looked at another photograph.

Ryan entering the clinic.

Date.

Fourteen months ago.

Long before I had ever met Vanessa.

Nathan said quietly:

“He's been preparing a medical file on you for more than a year.”

I shook my head.

“Why?”

“Because he needed grounds to take custody.”

My hands started shaking.

“But why?”

Nathan pulled out another document.

A corporate registration.

A trust.

A transfer agreement.

I read the name.

Miller Family Holdings.

“What is this?”

“Your husband moved most of the family assets into a company.”

“Without me?”

“He needed your signature.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I stared at him.

“Why tomorrow?”

“Because the notary is already scheduled.”

Everything suddenly made sense.

The dinner.

Vanessa.

The police complaint.

The doctor.

The story about my mental health.

They wanted me frightened.

Emotional.

Desperate.

Then they would place papers in front of me.

And when I signed them, I would unknowingly transfer everything.

But there was something else.

I looked at Nathan.

“How do you know all this?”

He hesitated.

Then said:

“My sister worked for Ryan.”

“What happened to her?”

“She found out what he was doing.”

I waited.

“She disappeared.”

The rain seemed louder.

“What?”

“Nobody has heard from her in nine months.”

My stomach twisted.

“You think Ryan did something?”

“I don't know.”

Nathan reached into his coat.

He gave me a small flash drive.

“She left this.”

I stared at it.

“What is it?”

“Everything.”

I took it.

“Why not go to the police?”

“I tried.”

“And?”

“They told me there wasn't enough.”

I looked toward the car.

Sophie was watching me through the window.

I turned back.

“Thank you.”

Nathan caught my arm.

“One more thing.”

“What?”

“Don't go home.”

“Why?”

“Because Ryan knows where you are.”

My phone vibrated.

A text.

From Ryan.

COME HOME NOW.

Another appeared.

WE NEED TO DISCUSS THE CHILDREN.

I stared at the screen.

Then came a third.

OR I WILL CALL THE POLICE AND REPORT YOU FOR TAKING THEM WITHOUT PERMISSION.

I looked at Nathan.

“How does he know?”

Nathan's face went pale.

“He's tracking your phone.”

My blood froze.

I immediately turned it off.

But it was already too late.

Across the street, a black SUV rolled slowly toward us.

Nathan whispered:

“Get in the car.”

I grabbed Sophie and Ethan.

The SUV stopped.

The rear window lowered.

Vanessa looked out.

She smiled.

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