Chapter 4: The Baby in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph until my eyes began to hurt.
Ryan.
Vanessa.
A newborn baby.
October 12.
Three days before my marriage ended.
My hands were trembling so badly that I had to place my phone on the coffee table.
I enlarged the photograph again.
Ryan was standing outside what appeared to be a private maternity hospital. His coat was buttoned, his expression serious. Vanessa stood beside him, looking exhausted but smiling.
And in his arms was a tiny baby wrapped in a white blanket.
I read Vanessa's message again.
Ryan didn't tell you everything.
I typed.
Whose baby is that?
Her response came almost immediately.
His.
My stomach twisted.
Is the baby yours?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Then appeared again.
No. The baby belongs to someone Ryan was involved with before you.
I felt physically sick.
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
I think you deserve to know what kind of man you married.
I threw the phone onto the sofa.
For five years, I had convinced myself that Ryan's betrayal had been simple.
He had loved another woman.
She had returned.
He had chosen her.
It had been cruel, but at least I understood it.
Now there was a newborn baby in a photograph taken three days before my divorce.
And I couldn't stop wondering whether Ryan had been living another life while I was planning our future.
The next morning, Alexander found me sitting at the kitchen counter.
"Mommy, you're awake early.""
I quickly turned off my phone.
"Good morning, sweetheart.""
He climbed onto the chair beside me.
"Did you sleep?""
"Not much.""
He studied my face.
"You look like when Lily broke your favorite coffee mug.""
I smiled weakly.
"That was a very sad morning.""
"It was an accident.""
"She was using it as a drum.""
Alexander considered this.
"Still an accident.""
I kissed his forehead.
"You're a good lawyer, Alex.""
He grinned.
Then he noticed the photograph on my phone.
"Who's that baby?""
I immediately locked the screen.
"Just something from work.""
He didn't believe me.
But he was kind enough not to ask again.
At nine o'clock, my assistant Sophie called.
"Claire, I need to tell you something.""
"What happened?""
"Ryan Whitmore's office contacted us.""
I closed my eyes.
"About what?""
"They want to arrange a meeting concerning the children.""
"Tell them all communication must go through our attorney.""
"There's something else.""
I waited.
"Whitmore Global is one of the companies attending tomorrow's investment summit.""
I nearly laughed.
Of course.
New York was apparently determined to put Ryan in every room I entered.
"Can we withdraw?""
"We could, but the partnership is worth approximately forty million dollars.""
I looked toward the living room.
The children were building a tower out of wooden blocks.
I had worked too hard to build my company to allow one man to destroy an opportunity.
"No," I said.
"We'll attend.""
"Are you sure?""
"Absolutely.""
After hanging up, I opened Vanessa's conversation.
I want to meet you.
Her reply arrived five minutes later.
Today. Three o'clock. The Carlyle.
I almost declined.
Then I looked at the photograph again.
I needed answers.
At three, I entered the hotel lounge wearing a navy suit.
Vanessa was already seated beside the window.
She looked different from the previous evening.
Less polished.
More nervous.
She stood when she saw me.
"Thank you for coming.""
"Let's make this quick.""
I sat opposite her.
She placed a small folder on the table.
"I wasn't planning to show you this, but after seeing your children, I realized you deserve the truth.""
I didn't touch it.
"Start talking.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"Ryan and I were together for six years before you.""
"I know.""
"When I left him, I was engaged to someone else. I thought he would eventually forgive me.""
I remained silent.
"Then I heard he was getting married. I couldn't accept it.""
I raised an eyebrow.
"So you came back.""
"Yes.""
"And he divorced me.""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Congratulations.""
She flinched.
"Claire, there's more.""
She opened the folder.
Inside were several documents and a photograph.
The same hospital.
The same newborn baby.
But this time, there was another woman in the picture.
A brunette with tired eyes, holding the infant.
"Her name was Olivia Grant," Vanessa said.
"She worked for one of Ryan's former business partners.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was she his mistress?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"She was pregnant when she met him. Ryan helped her financially. The father of her baby had disappeared.""
I frowned.
"Then why was Ryan holding her child?""
"Because he was helping her.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"You're telling me you sent me a photograph of Ryan holding another woman's baby to make me believe he'd fathered it?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"I wanted you to understand that Ryan has always had secrets.""
I pushed the folder away.
"That's a pathetic reason to interfere with my family.""
Vanessa leaned forward.
"There's something else. Three days before your divorce, Ryan discovered something about Olivia's child. He was furious. He thought someone had deliberately used him.""
"Used him how?""
"I don't know all the details.""
"Then why bring me here?""
Vanessa looked toward the window.
"Because I think Ryan's divorce from you wasn't only about me.""
My pulse quickened.
"What does that mean?""
She lowered her voice.
"His family was pressuring him. They wanted him to marry someone who could strengthen the company's position. Your marriage was never as simple as you thought.""
I stared at her.
"Ryan married me because he wanted to.""
"Did he?""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I stood.
"I don't believe you.""
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
"Claire, listen. I know what you think of me, but there's a reason Ryan never told you about Olivia.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Then he can explain it himself.""
I walked toward the exit.
My phone vibrated before I reached the door.
A message from Ryan.
We need to talk about the photograph.
I stopped.
Another message arrived.
Vanessa has no right to involve you in this.
I turned around.
Vanessa was watching me.
And for the first time, I wondered whether she had invited me here because she wanted to expose Ryan.
Or because she wanted to make sure I never trusted him again.
Then Ryan called.
I answered.
"How did you know I was meeting Vanessa?""
His voice was cold.
"Because I know her.""
"That's not an answer.""
"Claire, go back to your hotel. I'll explain everything.""
I glanced at Vanessa.
"Who is Olivia Grant?""
Silence.
Then Ryan said something that made my blood run cold.
"Where did you hear that name?""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Why? Is there something I shouldn't know?""
He exhaled sharply.
"Claire, don't trust anything Vanessa tells you.""
"Why?""
"Because she knows what really happened to Olivia's baby.""
The call ended.
I stood in the middle of the hotel lobby, staring at my phone.
Then another message appeared.
This time, it wasn't from Ryan.
May you like
It was from an unknown number.
Mrs. Whitmore, my name is Olivia Grant. I believe you have something that belongs to my son.
