Chapter 5 - The Night He Chose Another Man's Secret

The photograph was taken at 11:42 p.m.

The exact hour I'd been calling Vincent from the hospital.

I stared at it until my eyes blurred.

Maya gently took my arm.

"Claire, sit down."

I shook my head.

"He told me there was a business emergency."

"Maybe there was."

I looked at her.

"But what kind of emergency matters more than your wife losing a child?"

Maya didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

That afternoon, Rebecca met me at her office.

I showed her the photograph and messages.

She examined them carefully.

"We need to verify when and where this was taken."

I nodded.

"Can we find out?"

"Yes. But Claire, I also want you to understand something."

"What?"

"You don't need to prove Vincent committed a crime to proceed with your divorce."

The words settled over me.

I knew she was right.

I'd been so consumed by the new mysteries that I'd almost forgotten the simplest truth.

My marriage was already broken.

Vincent's choices had destroyed my trust.

Whatever Adrian and Vanessa had done might explain some of the lies.

But they wouldn't make those lies acceptable.

"I still want the truth," I whispered.

Rebecca nodded.

"Then we'll pursue it through appropriate channels."

A week later, investigators uncovered something important.

The building in the photograph belonged to Bellini Medical Holdings, a private healthcare investment company controlled by Adrian.

The company had recently acquired a chain of fertility clinics.

Including Westbridge Women's Clinic.

The clinic Vanessa claimed had provided her prenatal care.

My stomach tightened.

Rebecca looked toward me.

"There's another connection."

"What?"

"Bellini Medical Holdings also managed a laboratory that processed specialized medical testing."

I felt cold.

"Testing for what?"

"Several things. Including pharmaceutical analysis."

I stared.

Then remembered Rosa's words.

The vitamins.

The changed label.

Sofia's concerns.

Everything was beginning to connect.

That evening, Vincent called.

I let it ring.

Then he sent a message.

Claire, I spoke to the investigators. I gave them Adrian's financial records.

I stared at the screen.

Another message appeared.

I should have listened to you a long time ago.

I didn't answer.

Five minutes later, he called again.

This time, I picked up.

"What?"

His voice sounded exhausted.

"Claire, I found something."

"What?"

"Adrian used one of my company's accounts to transfer money to Westbridge."

My stomach tightened.

"How much?"

"Almost two million dollars."

I closed my eyes.

"Vincent, what exactly does your company do?"

He hesitated.

"Private investments. Logistics. Commercial real estate."

"And Adrian?"

"He handled medical-sector acquisitions."

I swallowed.

"Did you review those transactions?"

"Not closely enough."

The admission surprised me.

He continued.

"I trusted him."

I almost laughed.

"You trusted him the way I trusted you."

Silence.

Then Vincent whispered, "Yes."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Finally, he said, "Claire, I never knew your vitamins might have been altered."

I closed my eyes.

"Neither do we, Vincent. It's still being investigated."

"I know."

"Then stop treating suspicions like facts."

He took a breath.

"You're right."

Another pause.

Then his voice broke.

"I failed you that night."

I stared at the wall.

"Yes."

"I should have answered."

"Yes."

"I should have been there."

Tears filled my eyes.

"Yes, Vincent. You should have."

He began crying.

I'd never heard him cry before.

But it didn't change my decision.

"I need to go," I whispered.

"Claire—"

"Goodbye."

I ended the call.

Then my phone vibrated again.

This time, the message came from Rosa.

Dr. Claire, I found Mrs. Sofia's old journal.

My heart accelerated.

I called immediately.

"Rosa?"

Her voice trembled.

"There's something written inside."

"What?"

"Mrs. Sofia had been investigating Adrian Bellini before she died."

I sat upright.

"Why?"

Rosa swallowed.

"Because she believed Adrian was trying to take control of the Moretti family fortune."

A pause.

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