Chapter 4 - The Woman Before Me
"Who is she?" I asked.
Alexander entered the bedroom and closed the door.
"Give me the photograph."
"No."
"Claire."
"Who is she?"
He looked at the envelope in my hand.
"Where did you find that?"
"Under the drawer."
His jaw tightened.
"Someone put it there to manipulate you."
"Then tell me who she is."
He didn't answer.
I held up the photograph.
"Why is she wearing my ring?"
Alexander looked toward the open closet.
"Her name was Victoria."
"Was?"
"She was my father's first wife."
I blinked.
"Your father was married before your mother?"
"Yes."
"Why have I never heard of her?"
"Because she died when I was young."
I studied his face.
"How?"
"A car accident."
The words matched the note.
I felt a chill travel down my back.
"Someone says she didn't die in an accident."
"Someone is lying."
"Then why are you afraid of a photograph?"
"I'm not afraid."
"You came into this room looking like you'd seen a ghost."
His expression hardened.
"That woman has been dead for twenty-six years. Her history has nothing to do with you."
"Then why does her ring have everything to do with me?"
He took a step forward.
I stepped back.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Sophia.
He declined the call.
The irony almost made me laugh.
"Go answer your girlfriend."
"Don't."
"Why? Is she worried you're spending too much time with your wife?"
He closed his eyes.
"Claire, I made a mistake."
"Which one?"
"The announcement."
I stared at him.
"That's what you regret?"
"I shouldn't have handled it publicly."
"You shouldn't have had a relationship with her while married to me."
"It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?"
He didn't answer.
A knock sounded at the door.
Marco appeared.
"Sir, we have a problem."
Alexander turned.
"What?"
"Someone accessed the old family archive last night."
His expression changed.
"What was taken?"
"Victoria's file."
Alexander looked at me.
I felt my stomach tighten.
Marco continued.
"There's something else. The security cameras show a woman entering through the west gate two hours before the birthday dinner."
"Who?"
"Miss Reynolds."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible."
"She used a service entrance. We confirmed it."
I looked between them.
Sophia had been inside the estate before the party.
Before the photograph.
Before she walked through the front door holding Alexander's hand.
"Why was she here?" I asked.
Alexander didn't respond.
Marco did.
"She was looking for something in your bedroom."
My skin went cold.
"Something?"
Marco nodded.
"The security team found the wardrobe open. Several documents were missing."
Alexander turned toward him.
"Why wasn't I told?"
"We only discovered it this morning."
I looked at the envelope again.
The note.
The photograph.
The blue ring.
Suddenly, the pieces seemed connected.
Sophia hadn't simply been introduced to the family as Alexander's new partner.
She had been searching for something.
Something hidden in the house.
Something connected to Victoria.
"Claire," Alexander said, "I want you to leave with me."
I shook my head.
"No."
"You don't understand what you're involved in."
"Then tell me."
"I can't."
I put the photograph into my bag.
"That's your problem."
He grabbed the doorframe.
"Do not take that outside this house."
I looked at him.
"Why? Is the truth dangerous?"
His silence answered me.
I walked past him.
But as I reached the stairs, I heard Marco speaking quietly.
"Sir, there's one more thing."
"What?"
"The woman who entered the archive left something behind."
"What?"
Marco hesitated.
"A second photograph."
Alexander went completely still.
"Show me."
Marco handed it over.
I turned just enough to see the image.
It showed Victoria.
But she wasn't standing beside Alexander's father.
She was holding a newborn baby.
And written beneath the photograph were four words.
May you like
The child survived the fire.
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