Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO BORROWED MY HUSBAND'S NAME
Vanessa had told a fertility clinic that Vincent Moretti was her husband.
I sat motionless while Thomas explained.
He'd found the information through an internal insurance reimbursement dispute.
Vanessa had submitted a claim under a corporate medical benefits program.
The listed spouse was Vincent.
The marital status was marked married.
The dependent information had been entered using his personal details.
I felt sick.
For years, Vincent had dismissed my discomfort about Vanessa.
She's just my assistant.
You're imagining things.
Stop being jealous.
But Vanessa wasn't simply managing his calendar.
She had begun using his identity to build a future that excluded me.
Rachel examined the insurance documentation.
"This doesn't establish that Vincent knew."
I nodded.
"I understand."
And I did.
That was the terrible part.
I no longer knew what Vincent knew.
Or what he had allowed.
Or whether it even mattered.
Because when I needed him most, he'd chosen to leave.
That was the truth no document could change.
Across town, Vincent was confronting Vanessa.
He placed the insurance records on his desk.
"Explain."
Vanessa smiled nervously.
"It's an administrative mistake."
"You're listed as my wife."
"The benefits department entered the wrong information."
Vincent stared at her.
"Why were you at a fertility clinic?"
Her expression tightened.
"That's private."
"Then why did you use my name?"
She looked away.
For the first time in four years, Vanessa seemed unsure how to answer him.
Vincent leaned back.
"Did you forge my authorization on the merger documents?"
"Of course not."
"Then explain the electronic signature."
She swallowed.
"Your uncle authorized the transaction."
Vincent went still.
"Anthony?"
Vanessa nodded.
"He said you'd agreed."
Vincent reached for his phone.
Then stopped.
Something about her answer bothered him.
His uncle had been encouraging the merger for months.
But Anthony had also insisted that Claire's shares were irrelevant.
Now Vincent understood why.
They had been trying to remove her rights before the sale.
He looked at Vanessa.
"You're suspended pending an independent investigation."
Her face changed.
"Vincent—"
"Leave your company devices and access credentials with security."
She stood.
"You can't do this."
He looked at her coldly.
"Apparently, I can."
Vanessa stepped toward the door.
Then turned.
"You're making a mistake."
Vincent didn't answer.
She smiled bitterly.
"Claire isn't as innocent as you think."
His expression hardened.
"What are you talking about?"
Vanessa reached into her handbag.
She removed a photograph.
It showed me entering a medical clinic three weeks before the accident.
Vincent stared.
Then Vanessa spoke.
"Your wife was keeping a secret from you."
A pause.
"She was pregnant."
Vincent stopped breathing.
May you like
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
"And I knew before she did."
