Chapter 7: The Second Page
I read the message three times.
If you want to keep your children, Claire, make sure Ryan never sees the second page of that letter.
My hands went cold.
There was no second page.
I remembered writing that letter five years ago. I remembered sitting on the floor of our old apartment, surrounded by unopened moving boxes, trying to find the courage to tell Ryan he was going to be a father.
I had written one page.
One page containing three ultrasound photographs and a sentence that had taken me nearly an hour to finish.
Ryan, you're going to be a father to three children.
I had sealed it in an envelope.
Then I had placed it inside the box containing my personal documents.
The box disappeared during the move.
At the time, I assumed it had been misplaced.
Now I wondered whether someone had taken it deliberately.
"Claire?""
Ryan's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
He was standing beside the coffee table, watching my face.
"Who sent that message?""
"Nobody.""
"Don't lie to me.""
I looked up.
"Five years ago, you didn't care enough to ask me questions. Don't suddenly pretend you have the right to interrogate me.""
His jaw tightened.
"I'm trying to protect our children.""
"Then start by telling me why Daniel has a letter I never sent.""
Ryan pulled out a chair.
"Claire, I need you to listen.""
I didn't sit.
"Talk.""
"Three days before our divorce, Daniel showed me a document. It contained screenshots of emails supposedly sent from your personal account to one of our competitors.""
I stared at him.
"I never sent those emails.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
"Because our cybersecurity team recently recovered the original server records. The emails were fabricated.""
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"So you destroyed our marriage based on a few screenshots?""
"I believed they were real.""
"You believed a stranger over your wife.""
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
For the first time, he didn't try to defend himself.
That made me angrier.
"Do you know what I wanted to tell you that day?""
Ryan looked up.
"That you were pregnant?""
I nodded.
His expression changed.
"I spent the entire morning imagining your reaction. I bought a little pair of baby shoes. I had three ultrasound photographs in my purse.""
My voice broke.
"And you gave me divorce papers.""
Ryan stood slowly.
"Claire...""
"Don't.""
He stopped.
"I don't want your apology tonight.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at the message on my phone.
"Someone is threatening you. I'm not leaving until I know who.""
I stared at him.
"You're not staying because you want to protect me. You're staying because you can't stand not knowing what's happening.""
He didn't deny it.
That night, Ryan arranged for two security officers to remain outside our suite.
I hated the arrangement.
But I hated the possibility of someone approaching my children even more.
At midnight, after the children were asleep, Sophie called.
"Claire, I found something.""
I sat upright.
"What?""
"I recovered an old shipping record from the moving company you used five years ago. The box containing your personal documents was delivered to the Whitmore residence three days after you left.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who signed for it?""
There was a pause.
"Daniel Pierce.""
I closed my eyes.
"Send me the record.""
"I already did.""
I opened the attachment.
Daniel's signature was unmistakable.
He had taken my letter.
He had taken the ultrasound photographs.
And he had kept them for five years.
But why?
At seven the following morning, Ryan arrived at our suite carrying coffee and a thick envelope.
"I found something.""
I looked at him suspiciously.
"What now?""
He placed the envelope on the table.
"My father's private legal adviser kept copies of the original trust correspondence. Daniel wasn't supposed to control anything permanently.""
I opened it.
Inside was a series of emails.
One was dated October 13, five years ago.
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was Vanessa.
The divorce is proceeding as planned. Once Ryan signs, the succession arrangement remains under my supervision.
Vanessa's response was short.
Make sure Claire leaves without creating complications.
I looked at Ryan.
"She knew about the trust.""
He nodded.
"Apparently.""
Another email appeared.
This one was dated October 16.
Daniel had written:
The wife has left. The husband has signed. We have the documents.
I felt nauseated.
Ryan leaned against the table.
"I should have investigated everything.""
"Yes.""
"I should have questioned Daniel.""
"Yes.""
"I should have listened to you.""
I looked at him.
"Yes, Ryan. You should have.""
He lowered his head.
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Alexander appeared in the doorway.
"Mommy?""
I immediately closed the folder.
"Good morning, sweetheart.""
He looked at Ryan.
"Are you coming to breakfast?""
Ryan crouched.
"If your mother says it's okay.""
Alexander considered this.
"She usually says yes when people behave.""
I almost smiled.
Ryan glanced at me.
I gave a small nod.
"Breakfast is fine.""
At the table, Ethan insisted Ryan demonstrate how to fold a napkin into a swan.
Ryan failed twice.
Lily laughed so hard she nearly spilled her juice.
"You're bad at this!""
"I negotiate billion-dollar contracts," Ryan protested.
Ethan shrugged.
"Then negotiate with the napkin.""
For a few minutes, the room felt strangely peaceful.
Then Ryan's phone rang.
He answered.
"Whitmore.""
His expression changed.
"What do you mean the board has already convened?""
He listened.
Then stood.
"Nobody touches that document until I arrive.""
He ended the call.
I knew immediately.
"Daniel.""
Ryan nodded.
"The board meeting has been moved forward. He's presenting the letter now.""
I stood.
"Then we're going.""
Ryan looked surprised.
"Claire, you don't have to.""
"That letter is mine. Those children are mine. And I'm done letting other people tell my story.""
He studied me.
Then he nodded.
"I'll arrange a car.""
As we prepared to leave, my phone vibrated.
Another message from the unknown number.
This time, there was a photograph attached.
It showed the second page of a document.
At the top were the words:
*PATERNITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONDITIONAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT.*
Below them was my signature.
A signature I had never written.
And beneath it, a sentence that made my blood run cold.
I voluntarily surrender all parental rights to the unborn children in exchange for the settlement payment.
I looked at Ryan.
He had just received the same photograph.
His face went completely pale.
"Claire," he whispered.
"Did you sign this?""
I stared at the document.
"No.""
Then I looked at the date.
October 15.
The day of our divorce.
Someone hadn't merely stolen my letter.
May you like
Someone had forged my signature to make it appear that I had willingly surrendered my unborn children.
And Daniel was about to use that document against us.
