Chapter 5 - CLAIRE’S CONFESSION
The room erupted.
My mother was crying.
My father was shouting orders.
The soldiers were searching for hidden cameras.
But I could hear only one thing.
Your husband is not the real enemy.
Evan stood quietly.
My father turned toward him.
“Where is Claire?”
Evan smiled.
“You’ll never find her.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You kept her alive.”
Evan looked at him.
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because she was useful.”
I stared at him.
“You imprisoned her.”
Evan’s eyes shifted to me.
“She knew too much.”
My father grabbed him by the collar.
“Where is she?”
Evan laughed.
“You’re getting emotional.”
My father slammed him against the wall.
“Where?”
Evan's smile vanished.
But he said nothing.
Then my mother whispered:
“I know where she is.”
Everyone turned toward her.
My father released Evan.
“Tell me.”
My mother was shaking.
“An old estate.”
“Which one?”
“The Hawthorne property.”
My father looked at the soldiers.
“Move.”
We left the facility.
The Hawthorne estate was an abandoned property three miles from the main Whitmore residence.
When we arrived, the house appeared empty.
But the basement door was locked from the outside.
My father broke it open.
We descended.
At the bottom, we found Claire.
She was sitting in a chair.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
When she saw Evan, she began shaking.
My father moved between them.
“Evan is under arrest.”
Claire looked at me.
“Are you Emily?”
I nodded.
She began crying.
“He chose you because you were like me.”
I swallowed.
“What does that mean?”
“He thought he could control you.”
My father helped her stand.
“Tell us everything.”
Claire looked toward Evan.
“He didn't start this.”
My father frowned.
“Who did?”
Claire looked at my mother.
My mother broke down.
“Don’t.”
Claire whispered:
“Your mother.”
I stared at her.
My mother shook her head.
“I had no choice.”
Claire continued.
“She came to me before the wedding.”
My father turned toward my mother.
“Why?”
My mother said nothing.
Claire answered.
“She wanted Emily married to Evan.”
I felt as if the floor had disappeared.
“Why?”
Claire looked at me.
“Because your mother was afraid of losing everything.”
My father’s expression changed.
My mother began sobbing.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“Your father.”
I looked at my father.
My mother continued:
“Your father was going to change the inheritance.”
My father stared at her.
“What?”
“You were going to leave everything to Emily.”
“Yes.”
“And I thought Evan could protect her.”
My father looked at me.
“Your mother arranged the marriage?”
My mother nodded.
“I thought Evan loved her.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“He never loved anyone.”
Evan finally spoke.
“That isn't true.”
Claire looked at him.
“You loved money.”
He smiled.
“And you loved being alive.”
Claire flinched.
My father moved toward him.
Evan continued:
“Everyone made choices.”
I stared at my mother.
“You knew he was dangerous.”
“I knew he was ambitious.”
“You knew about Claire.”
“I thought she was dead.”
Claire whispered:
“She was told I was dead.”
My mother began crying harder.
The truth was coming apart.
Piece by piece.
Then Claire reached into her coat.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“This is why Evan kept me alive.”
My father took it.
Inside was a USB drive.
Claire looked at me.
“Your father’s greatest secret is on it.”
My father froze.
“What?”
Claire shook her head.
“I don't know what it is.”
“Then why would Evan want it?”
“Because he believed it would destroy your family.”
My father looked at Evan.
“What is on that drive?”
Evan smiled.
“Ask your daughter.”
I looked at him.
“What do I know?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you saying that?”
“Because you were there.”
My mind raced.
Seven months earlier.
Before I knew I was pregnant.
Before everything began.
There had been a night.
A night I had tried to forget.
I had gone to my father's office.
I had overheard an argument.
My father and another man.
They had been discussing something.
A name.
A military operation.
A missing shipment.
And then my father had seen me.
He had told me to forget everything.
I had.
Or I thought I had.
My father looked at me.
“Emily.”
I turned toward him.
“What were you talking about that night?”
He didn't answer.
My mother stared at him.
“Richard…”
My father closed his eyes.
Claire whispered:
“Now you understand.”
I looked at my father.
“What did you do?”
He finally spoke.
“I made a mistake.”
“What kind of mistake?”
May you like
He looked at the USB drive.
“The kind that killed people.”
