Chapter 6: The Man From Vivian’s Past
I stared at the signature until the letters blurred.
I knew the name.
I had seen it once before.
Years ago.
Before Vivian became my wife.
Before the mansion.
Before the children.
Before I convinced myself I knew everything about the woman sleeping beside me every night.
*Thomas Whitmore.*
Her first husband.
The man Vivian always described as a mistake.
A chapter she had closed.
A person who supposedly abandoned her and left her with nothing.
But now his name was at the bottom of a letter warning me about her.
My hands tightened around the paper.
I read the first line again.
Daniel Hale, if you are reading this, it means Vivian finally did what she always promised she would do.
My stomach twisted.
Promised?
I carried the letter into my office and closed the door.
I didn’t want Ethan or Caleb to see the look on my face.
They had already seen enough.
I called the number written on the envelope.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then someone answered.
“Daniel Hale?””
The voice was older than I expected.
Calmer.
Almost tired.
“Yes.””
A long silence followed.
Then the man said:
“So she chose you.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew she would?””
“I hoped I was wrong.””
I sat down.
“Who are you?””
The man exhaled.
“You already know.””
“Thomas Whitmore.””
“Yes.””
The name felt heavier hearing it spoken.
“I found your letter.””
“I was afraid you would.””
“Why?””
“Because it means my warnings were too late.””
I looked at the document in front of me.
“Tell me the truth about Vivian.””
Another silence.
Then he said:
“You need to understand something, Daniel. Vivian doesn’t destroy people because she hates them.””
“Then why?””
“Because she believes everyone eventually leaves her.””
I frowned.
“That doesn’t explain what she did.””
“No.””
His voice became darker.
“It explains why she does it.””
I leaned back.
“Start from the beginning.””
Thomas stayed quiet for a moment.
Then he began.
“I met Vivian when she was twenty-six. She was brilliant. Charming. The kind of person who could walk into a room and make everyone feel like they were the only person there.””
I looked out the window.
That sounded exactly like the woman I knew.
“She made me feel special,” Thomas continued.
“Until I realized she made everyone feel special.””
“What happened?””
“She started controlling everything.””
“Like what?””
“Small things at first.””
His voice became distant.
“She wanted to know where I was every minute. Who I talked to. Why I smiled at certain people.””
I swallowed.
“She was jealous?””
“No.””
A pause.
“She was afraid.””
I almost laughed.
“Afraid?””
“Yes.””
“Thomas, she framed my nanny. She threatened my son.””
“I know.””
The certainty in his voice made me freeze.
“How?””
“Because she did similar things to me.””
My grip tightened.
“What things?””
“She convinced my friends I was unstable.””
The room went silent.
“She kept records of every argument. She took conversations out of context. She created a story where I was the problem.””
My chest tightened.
“She tried to take your children?””
Thomas didn’t answer immediately.
That was the answer.
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Do you have children with her?””
“No.””
“Then why—”
“Because she wanted children.””
His voice softened.
“And when we couldn’t have them, she blamed me.””
I looked toward the hallway.
Toward my sons’ bedrooms.
“Why send the letter now?””
“Because I saw the news.””
“What news?””
“The arrest.””
I froze.
“The nanny?””
“Yes.””
Thomas sighed.
“I recognized the pattern.””
“What pattern?””
“She always removes the person who knows too much.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Maya.””
“Yes.””
I stood and walked across the room.
“What else do I need to know?””
Thomas hesitated.
Then said:
“She has another secret.””
I stopped.
“What?””
“She didn’t meet you by accident.””
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?””
“Daniel, how did you meet Vivian?””
I remembered.
A charity event.
Eight years earlier.
She had spilled wine on my suit.
We laughed.
We talked.
It felt natural.
Beautiful.
Real.
“She approached me at a fundraiser.””
“Did you know who she was?””
“No.””
“Did she know who you were?””
I didn’t answer.
Because suddenly I knew.
She had.
Thomas continued.
“She studied people before she entered their lives.””
My skin went cold.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying she knew about your business. Your wealth. Your reputation.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
I looked around my office.
At the expensive furniture.
The awards.
The photos of my family.
All the things I thought we built together.
“Why me?””
Thomas’s answer came quietly.
“Because you were the perfect target.””
The word hit harder than I expected.
Target.
Not husband.
Not partner.
Target.
Before I could respond, I heard something outside my office.
A floorboard.
I turned.
The hallway was empty.
“Daniel?””
I lowered my voice.
“I have to go.””
“Listen to me.””
“What?””
“Don’t confront her again without protection.””
“Why?””
“Because when Vivian realizes she is losing control…”
He stopped.
“What?””
“She becomes dangerous.””
The call ended.
I stood alone.
Then I noticed something.
The office door.
It was slightly open.
I was certain I had closed it.
Slowly, I walked toward it.
On the floor outside was a piece of paper.
A note.
May you like
Three words.
*I heard everything.*
