Chapter 5 - THE HUSBAND WHO FINALLY FOUND THE TRUTH
Adrian Moretti had slept less than six hours in the week after I disappeared.
I learned that later.
At the time, I didn't care whether he'd slept at all.
I cared that he'd chosen Lily.
I cared that he'd waited until the second night to visit me in the hospital.
I cared that when I'd told him I was leaving, he'd behaved as though divorce was an inconvenience he could forbid.
But his message frightened me for a different reason.
I'd never told him where I was.
And yet he had found my temporary number.
I called.
He answered before the first ring finished.
"Claire."
The sound of his voice almost broke something inside me.
Almost.
"How did you find this phone?"
"A security alert flagged a call to someone connected to the kidnapping investigation. I didn't track your location."
"You're asking me to trust that?"
"No."
His answer surprised me.
"I know I've given you no reason to."
Silence stretched between us.
Finally, I said, "Tell me about Lily."
Adrian exhaled.
"She told me she was pregnant three weeks before the kidnapping."
My throat tightened.
"And you went with her to a clinic."
"Yes."
"Was the baby yours?"
"No."
He answered without hesitation.
I hated that I wanted to believe him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Lily said someone inside the organization was threatening her. She begged me to keep her medical information private."
"And you agreed."
"Yes."
"While keeping secrets from your wife."
His voice cracked.
"I was wrong."
The admission came too late.
But it came.
"Claire, I believed Lily's pregnancy was connected to a relationship she was hiding from a dangerous man. I thought accompanying her would keep her safe."
"Did you love her?"
"No."
"Did you ever?"
"Never."
I closed my eyes.
"Then why did you choose her?"
A long silence followed.
"Because the kidnappers told me her oxygen levels were falling. The medical feed suggested she had only minutes."
"And my feed?"
"Showed a serious ankle injury and stable breathing."
I laughed bitterly.
"Stable breathing. That's what my life was reduced to?"
"No. Claire, listen. I was given false information. Daniel controlled the feeds."
I looked toward Thomas.
He was watching me carefully.
"How do you know?"
"Because the hospital records don't match what Daniel showed me."
My heart pounded.
Adrian continued.
"And because Lily confessed something."
"What?"
"She wasn't pregnant."
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
"Her medical records were manipulated. She's been working with Daniel."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Why?"
"To separate us."
I swallowed.
"Why would anyone need to separate us?"
Adrian's answer came quietly.
"Because your father left you something they need."
My gaze dropped toward the open locket.
Before I could respond, Adrian whispered:
"Claire, there's another reason I called."
"What?"
May you like
"Daniel knows where you are."
And from downstairs came the unmistakable sound of breaking glass.
