Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew Before Me
I read the letter three times.
Then a fourth.
Because my brain refused to accept the words.
The handwriting was mine.
The fear was mine.
The pain was mine.
But the memory was missing.
*Claire, if you are reading this, something happened that made you forget.*
I stopped.
“Forget?””
Derek looked away.
“Claire…”
“No.””
I held up the letter.
“You knew?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You knew I wrote this?””
“Yes.””
My voice became quiet.
“How long?””
Derek sat down.
For the first time, he looked tired.
Not busy.
Not annoyed.
Tired.
“Since before Emma was born.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Explain.””
He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Five years ago, before our wedding, you found out about my father.””
I frowned.
“Your father?””
“He wasn’t just a businessman.””
The room felt smaller.
“He was involved with illegal financial deals. He created problems for a lot of people.””
I stared at him.
“And what does that have to do with me?””
Derek looked at the floor.
“Your mother knew.””
My chest tightened.
“My mother?””
“She helped your father expose him.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
“She left evidence.””
“No.””
“Claire, listen—”
“No.””
Because my entire life was changing again.
My mother.
The woman who taught me honesty.
The woman who raised me alone.
The woman who died suddenly.
She had been part of something bigger.
Derek stood.
“I tried to keep you away from it.””
“By lying to me?””
“I was scared.””
I almost smiled.
Everyone was scared.
Everyone except me.
I was the one who carried the consequences.
“You don’t get to use fear as an excuse anymore.””
He looked hurt.
“Claire, I love you.””
The words should have mattered.
They didn’t.
Because love was not just a feeling.
Love was showing up.
Love was staying.
Love was not fifteen dollars on a counter.
A knock came at the door.
We both froze.
Derek looked toward it.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone.””
Rachel opened it before either of us moved.
Standing outside was an older man in a dark coat.
He looked directly at me.
Then at Emma.
His face changed.
“Oh my God.””
I stepped back.
“Who are you?””
The man swallowed.
“My name is Thomas Bennett.””
Derek went pale.
“Dad?””
The room went silent.
I looked at Derek.
“You said your father was dead.””
Thomas looked at him.
“You told her that?””
Derek closed his eyes.
And suddenly I understood.
There were more secrets.
More lies.
More years of my life built on things I never knew.
Thomas looked at me.
“I’m sorry, Claire.””
I held Emma closer.
“For what?””
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a photograph.
And handed it to me.
The picture showed my mother.
Derek.
Thomas.
And another woman.
A woman holding a baby.
My baby.
Except the date on the back was five years before Emma was born.
I looked at Derek.
“What is this?””
Nobody spoke.
May you like
Then Thomas whispered:
“That’s why Derek married you.””
