Chapter 6 - The Mistress Who Had Another Lover
Vanessa Reed had spent three years convincing my husband that she loved him.
Now I was learning she might have been using him for something far more dangerous.
Rosa sent photographs of Sofia's journal to Rebecca.
I read them from Maya's couch.
Sofia's handwriting was elegant and precise.
She had recorded dates, transfers, meetings, and names.
But one entry made my stomach turn.
Adrian introduced Vanessa to Vincent at the charity gala.
The introduction was not accidental.
I stared.
Three years ago, Vincent had attended a foundation fundraiser without me because I was working overnight.
He'd come home unusually cheerful.
He told me he'd met several promising business partners.
He never mentioned Vanessa.
Now I wondered whether that had been the beginning.
Another journal entry followed.
Vanessa has been gathering information about Vincent's personal accounts.
Adrian appears to be helping her.
I closed my eyes.
For years, I'd blamed myself.
My exhausting schedule.
My grief after the miscarriage.
The way I sometimes came home too tired to cook dinner.
I wondered whether I'd become boring.
Whether I wasn't beautiful enough.
Whether Vincent had fallen in love with Vanessa because I'd failed somehow.
Now I saw something different.
A calculated deception.
But the realization didn't absolve Vincent.
He still chose to betray me.
Nobody had forced him to keep a mistress.
Nobody had forced him to lie.
I reminded myself of that as I continued reading.
Then I reached Sofia's final entry.
It was dated four days before her death.
I have proof Adrian is diverting company funds.
I must tell Claire.
My heart stopped.
Why me?
Why not Vincent?
I turned the page.
Sofia had written only one sentence.
Claire is the only one who will believe me.
I covered my face.
She'd trusted me.
And somehow, I'd never known.
That afternoon, Rebecca arranged for the journal to be preserved and reviewed by investigators.
Vincent also received a copy through his attorney.
He called an hour later.
"Claire."
His voice was barely recognizable.
"You saw Mom's journal?"
"Yes."
A long silence followed.
Then he whispered, "She warned me about Adrian."
My chest tightened.
"When?"
"Six months before she died."
"And?"
"I told her she was being paranoid."
I stared at the window.
"You dismissed her."
"Yes."
"And she died believing you wouldn't listen."
Vincent began crying.
"I know."
I swallowed.
For the first time, I felt something like pity for him.
Not enough to return.
But enough to understand that the consequences of his choices were finally reaching him.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Claire, there's something else about Vanessa."
I closed my eyes.
"What now?"
"She admitted she had a relationship with Adrian."
My stomach tightened.
"Before you?"
"And during."
I sat upright.
"She told you that?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I confronted her with the financial records."
I stared.
"What did she say?"
Vincent took a shaky breath.
"She said Adrian promised to make her wealthy."
I swallowed.
"And the baby?"
A terrible silence followed.
Then he whispered, "She doesn't know who the father is."
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I felt nothing.
Not anger.
Not triumph.
Just exhaustion.
Then Vincent continued.
"She says Adrian told her to become pregnant."
I frowned.
"What?"
"He wanted me to believe the baby was mine."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Vincent's voice became quiet.
"Because my mother's trust has a provision involving my first biological child."
I looked down at my own stomach.
My heart began pounding.
"What provision?"
He swallowed.
"The child inherits a controlling interest in a protected family holding company."
I went completely still.
"And Adrian wanted Vanessa's child to be recognized as yours?"
"Yes."
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Then Vincent delivered the detail that made my blood turn cold.
"Claire, whoever controls that trust could take possession of assets worth nearly eight hundred million dollars."
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