Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I read Olivia's message several times.
I believe you have something that belongs to my son.
I immediately called the number.
A woman answered after two rings.
"Hello?""
"Olivia Grant?""
"Yes.""
"This is Claire.""
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered, "I know.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How did you get my number?""
"Vanessa gave it to me.""
Of course she had.
I leaned against the hotel hallway wall.
"What do you want?""
"I want to meet you.""
"Why?""
"Because I think your children are in danger.""
The words struck me like ice water.
I straightened.
"What did you just say?""
"Please, Mrs. Whitmore. I know this sounds frightening, but I wouldn't contact you if it weren't important.""
I looked through the glass doors toward the hotel's children's play area.
Alexander was helping Lily with a puzzle while Ethan attempted to build a tower using pieces that clearly weren't designed for stacking.
They were safe.
They had to be safe.
"Where are you?""
"At St. Catherine's Hospital. I can meet you in the lobby.""
I checked the time.
"Give me thirty minutes.""
I arranged for Sophie to stay with the children and took a car to the hospital.
Olivia was sitting near the reception desk.
She looked younger than I expected.
Perhaps thirty-two.
Her brown hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and she wore a faded blue sweater. There were dark circles beneath her eyes.
When she saw me, she stood.
"Thank you for coming.""
I didn't sit.
"Tell me what you know.""
Olivia looked around nervously.
Then she handed me a photograph.
It showed a little boy, perhaps five years old, sitting on a hospital bed.
He had dark hair and striking gray eyes.
Ryan's eyes.
I stared at the picture.
"Is this your son?""
She nodded.
"His name is Noah.""
"Why did Vanessa send me a photograph of Ryan holding him?""
Olivia swallowed.
"Because Ryan helped me when Noah was born.""
"Was Ryan his father?""
"No.""
Her answer was immediate.
"Then why did Ryan act like he was?""
Olivia sat down.
"Because someone told him he might be.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Start from the beginning.""
Olivia took a shaky breath.
"Five years ago, I was working for a company called Sinclair Holdings. It was owned by Vanessa's family. I became pregnant after a relationship with a man who disappeared when he found out.""
I frowned.
"Sinclair Holdings?""
She nodded.
"Ryan was negotiating a major acquisition with them. When he discovered I was pregnant, he helped pay for my medical care. He also promised to make sure the father couldn't use the child to blackmail me.""
"How did Vanessa become involved?""
"She was the one who introduced me to Ryan. She told him the baby might be his.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why would she say that?""
"Because she wanted him to take responsibility for me. She thought if he became emotionally attached to Noah, he would never leave her again.""
I stared at her.
"That's insane.""
"I know.""
Olivia's eyes filled.
"But Ryan ordered a DNA test. It proved Noah wasn't his.""
I remembered the photograph.
October 12.
Three days before my divorce.
"Was that the day he found out?""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Olivia looked down at her hands.
"He was furious. He told Vanessa he would never tolerate another lie. He said he was going to end their relationship before it damaged his company.""
I sat very still.
"Then why did he divorce me?""
Olivia hesitated.
"Because Vanessa had another plan.""
My pulse quickened.
"What plan?""
"She told him you had been communicating with someone from his company. She showed him messages suggesting you were leaking confidential business information.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She claimed you were working with a competitor.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"I know. But Ryan believed her.""
I felt a bitter laugh rising in my throat.
"Of course he did.""
Olivia reached into her bag and removed another photograph.
This one showed Vanessa standing beside a man in a parking garage.
The man was holding a thick envelope.
"Do you recognize him?""
I examined his face.
Then I froze.
It was Daniel Pierce.
Ryan's former chief financial officer.
I remembered him from company dinners. He had once complimented my work when I helped organize a charity investment event.
"Daniel?""
Olivia nodded.
"He provided Vanessa with the documents she used against you.""
My stomach turned.
"Why?""
"Because she promised him a position in the company after Ryan divorced you.""
I sat back.
The entire thing suddenly felt much larger than a marriage ending.
It had been planned.
My reputation.
My marriage.
My future.
Everything.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
Olivia looked toward the hospital corridor.
"Because Daniel came back.""
"What?""
"Last week, someone contacted me asking about Noah's birth records. They wanted copies of the original DNA test.""
"Who?""
"I don't know. But yesterday, a man came to my apartment and told me to stop talking about what happened five years ago.""
My blood ran cold.
"Did you report him?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I was scared.""
I stared at her.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
"What does this have to do with my children?""
Olivia looked directly at me.
"Daniel knows Ryan has discovered he has three children. He also knows those children could inherit a significant portion of Whitmore Global.""
I frowned.
"Ryan's personal wealth has nothing to do with Daniel.""
"Not directly. But the company has a succession agreement. If Ryan acknowledges his children, his family trust changes.""
I slowly understood.
Someone had wanted Ryan's marriage to end.
Someone had wanted to control who stood beside him.
And now someone might be afraid of the three children he had never known.
My phone rang.
Ryan.
I declined it.
Olivia noticed.
"Does he know you're here?""
"No.""
"Maybe you should tell him.""
I gave her a cold look.
"I've spent five years learning not to take orders from Ryan Whitmore.""
She nodded.
"Then please promise me one thing.""
"What?""
"Don't let Vanessa near your children.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
Olivia's voice dropped.
"Because Noah wasn't the only child she tried to use.""
Before I could ask another question, a nurse approached.
"Ms. Grant?""
Olivia stood.
"Yes?""
"Your son is asking for you.""
She turned to me.
"I'm sorry. I have to go.""
I caught her arm.
"Wait. What do you mean she used another child?""
Olivia's eyes filled with fear.
"Ask Ryan about the Whitmore family trust.""
Then she hurried down the corridor.
I stood alone.
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.
A message from Ryan.
I'm outside your hotel. We need to discuss the children's security.
I immediately called him.
"What have you done?""
His response was sharp.
"Claire, listen carefully. Someone accessed the children's school registration records this afternoon.""
My blood turned to ice.
"What?""
"Your assistant contacted my security team. There was an attempt to obtain their personal information.""
"Why would you know that?""
"Because I had someone monitoring the situation.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who authorized you to monitor my children?""
"Claire, this isn't the time.""
"It is exactly the time!""
His voice lowered.
"Someone has been looking for them.""
I couldn't speak.
May you like
Then he said the one thing that made my knees weak.
"And I think I know who.""
