Chapter 5: The Woman Who Was Never Innocent
Courtney had always acted like she was decoration.
A young wife standing beside an older husband.
A woman who cared about clothes, parties, and appearances.
I had underestimated her.
And that mistake almost cost me everything.
The next morning, Samantha and I went to Baldwin-Gallagher Logistics.
The company building was where Lucas spent half his life.
Walking inside without him felt wrong.
Everyone knew.
The receptionist looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Mrs. Gallagher.””
I forced a smile.
“Hi, Emily.””
She lowered her voice.
“We’re glad you’re here.””
That meant more than she knew.
Because for weeks, people had treated me like something fragile.
Like grief had made me disappear.
But I was still Lucas’s wife.
Still my daughter’s mother.
Still myself.
Daniel met us upstairs.
“She’s been here three times.””
“Courtney?””
He nodded.
“She was accessing archived files.””
Samantha frowned.
“How?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“She had an employee badge.””
I stared.
“She worked here?””
“No.””
“Then why did she have access?””
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
Someone inside had helped her.
We searched the security footage.
And there she was.
Courtney walking through the executive floor.
Confident.
Comfortable.
Like she belonged.
Then the footage showed something else.
She wasn’t alone.
She met Marcus.
My heart sank.
The person Lucas suspected.
The person stealing from him.
And the woman my father married.
Together.
That evening, I returned home.
The nursery was almost finished.
Lucas painted the walls himself.
Soft yellow.
He said babies deserved a happy color.
I sat in the rocking chair and cried.
Not because I was weak.
Because I missed him.
Then I noticed something.
The closet door was slightly open.
I was certain I had closed it.
I stood slowly.
My hand moved toward the door.
Inside was a small envelope.
Not Lucas’s handwriting.
Someone else’s.
I opened it.
A single piece of paper fell out.
Four words.
“Your father knows everything.””
My phone rang.
Samantha.
I answered immediately.
“Victoria.””
Her voice sounded frightened.
“What happened?””
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Leave.””
I froze.
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because we found out who Courtney really is.””
I looked at the envelope.
My heartbeat grew louder.
“Samantha, who is she?””
Her answer came quietly.
“She isn’t Charles’s wife.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“She’s connected to Lucas’s accident.””
The room went cold.
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Connected how?””
Samantha didn’t answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Victoria, Lucas’s crash wasn’t random.””
Outside, a car door slammed.
I turned toward the window.
A figure stood in my driveway.
Watching the house.
And then my phone received a message.
A photograph.
A picture of my daughter’s unfinished nursery.
Taken from inside my home.
May you like
The message underneath said:
“Now you understand why Lucas tried to protect you.””
