Chapter 8 - LAUREN LEARNS SHE WAS BAIT TOO
I showed Lauren the report.
Not Nathan.
Not Diane.
Lauren.
She was sitting in my kitchen feeding Eli strawberries.
Nathan had gone to the office.
Diane was shopping.
I placed the copy beside her.
“What is this?”
“Read.”
She did.
Her face changed.
“He told you to wear the bracelet.”
Her eyes lifted.
“No.”
“Did he give it to you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Yesterday morning.”
“What did he say?”
She looked down.
“He said Diane wanted me to have something special.”
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
“He wanted me to see it.”
Lauren shook her head.
“No.”
“Look at the date on that report.”
She did.
“Three weeks ago.”
Then I showed her the meeting calendar.
Her name.
Diane.
Dr. Vale.
Today.
Lauren’s breathing changed.
“What is this?”
“Nathan’s plan.”
She stood.
“No.”
“He said we were meeting an estate planner.”
“Did he?”
She stared.
I continued.
“He needed me angry.”
“You needed me angry.”
Her face flushed.
“I didn’t know.”
“You mocked my daughter.”
She closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“You held my son’s hand like you were replacing me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You wore my mother’s bracelet.”
“He gave it to me.”
“And you wore it.”
She had no answer.
I softened only once.
“Eli did nothing wrong.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
“Then protect him.”
She looked at me.
“From who?”
I almost laughed.
“You really still have to ask?”
Nathan came home at noon.
Lauren met him in the hall.
“What is Dr. Vale?”
He stopped.
Then looked at me.
That glance confirmed everything.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Lauren held up the report.
Nathan’s face changed.
“Rachel.”
I smiled.
“You should really stop saying my name like it’s evidence of insanity.”
Lauren stepped closer.
“You told me Rachel was unstable.”
Nathan looked at her.
“She is.”
“You paid a psychiatrist who never met her.”
“He reviewed information.”
“You wanted me to provoke her.”
“No.”
“You gave me the bracelet.”
“For you.”
“You knew what it meant.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“This is not the time.”
Lauren laughed.
“When is the time?”
“After she signs everything?”
He went silent.
I watched Lauren understand.
Not all at once.
Piece by piece.
Nathan did not see women as partners.
Only positions.
Wife.
Mistress.
Mother.
Witness.
Asset.
Liability.
Lauren whispered.
“What did you plan to do with me after Rachel was declared unstable?”
Nathan stared.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No.”
She stepped backward.
“You never planned to marry me.”
He said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Then Eli ran into the hall.
“Daddy!”
Nathan looked down.
Lauren moved between them instinctively.
I saw fear in her face.
Not for herself.
For her son.
That mattered.
She picked Eli up.
“I’m leaving.”
Nathan grabbed her elbow.
“Don’t.”
She pulled away.
I raised my phone.
“Touch her again.”
He saw the camera recording.
His hand dropped.
Lauren looked at me.
Then at the bracelet.
Slowly, she removed it.
She placed it in my palm.
“I’m sorry.”
I closed my fingers around my mother’s jewelry.
Nathan looked furious.
May you like
The bait had come home.
But the trap had changed owners.
