Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE

Julian was released the following morning.

The investigators didn't arrest him.

Not yet.

They didn't have enough evidence.

The USB Claire had found had been copied before she entered the lobby.

The original was already somewhere safe.

Julian knew that.

But he didn't know where.

That uncertainty terrified him.

At 8:17 a.m., Claire received a call.

"Claire?"

She recognized the voice.

Julian.

She hung up.

He called again.

She ignored him.

A third time.

Then a message appeared.

We need to talk.

She deleted it.

Another message arrived.

You don't understand what happened.

She laughed quietly.

Three years earlier, she had begged Julian to explain why their bank accounts had been frozen.

He told her the business was going through a temporary restructuring.

She believed him.

He told her the house would be returned.

She believed him.

He told her that Paris had been the last place he loved her.

She believed him.

And when the coffin arrived, she believed that too.

Claire walked to work.

She passed the jewelry store where Julian had bought her wedding ring.

She stopped.

For a moment, she saw herself at twenty-eight.

Young.

Hopeful.

Certain that love was permanent.

She walked past.

At the hotel, Sophia arrived before noon.

She was dressed in white.

Perfect.

Elegant.

Untouchable.

She entered the staff corridor and waited.

When Claire appeared, Sophia stepped in front of her.

"You need to stop."

Claire didn't answer.

Sophia looked around.

"I'm trying to help you."

Claire nearly smiled.

"Women who call themselves helpful usually aren't."

Sophia's face hardened.

"You don't know Julian."

"I was married to him."

"You were the woman he left behind."

Claire looked directly at her.

"No."

Her voice was quiet.

"I was the woman he thought he had buried."

Sophia swallowed.

"You should be careful."

"Why?"

"Because Julian is dangerous."

Claire studied her.

"Then why did you marry him?"

Sophia went pale.

"I didn't."

Claire's eyes narrowed.

"You planned to."

Sophia said nothing.

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That silence answered everything.

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