Chapter 2 - The Woman Named Evelyn
Claire listened to the recording three times.
Each time, Diane Bennett’s voice sounded less like her mother’s.
Julian spoke next.
“She doesn’t even know Evelyn is alive.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Paige laughed softly in the background.
“She doesn’t know anything.”
The recording ended.
Claire sat completely still.
Evelyn was alive.
The woman listed as Claire’s biological mother had not died.
Someone had deliberately kept Claire from finding her.
Her phone vibrated.
JULIAN.
She watched it ring.
Then another message appeared.
Where are you?
Another followed.
Everyone is upstairs.
Claire stared at the words until her vision cleared.
She could not confront him yet.
Not when he believed she knew nothing.
Not when he had already prepared divorce papers.
Not when her own family appeared involved.
Claire copied the entire CLAIRE EXIT folder onto a flash drive she kept on her keychain.
Then she emailed encrypted copies to an account Julian did not know existed.
Finally, she closed every file.
She wiped the recent-document history.
She restarted the laptop.
By the time Claire entered the ballroom upstairs, her face was calm.
Julian hurried toward her.
“There you are.”
He kissed her cheek.
Claire resisted the urge to recoil.
“I got stuck in traffic.”
“You brought the laptop?”
She handed it to him.
His shoulders relaxed.
“Saved my life.”
Paige appeared behind him.
The cream dress looked different now.
Dirty somehow.
“Happy birthday.”
Paige hugged her.
Claire smelled Julian’s cologne on her sister’s hair.
She hugged Paige back.
“Thank you.”
Thirty-two guests applauded when Claire entered the private dining room.
Her mother rushed forward.
Diane Bennett looked exactly as she always had.
Perfect blond bob.
Pearl earrings.
Soft hands.
A concerned smile.
“You’re late, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart.
Claire wondered how many lies could fit inside one word.
Thomas Bennett stood near the bar.
He raised his glass.
“There’s my birthday girl.”
Claire looked at the man she had called Dad for forty years.
Did he know too?
A waiter brought champagne.
Julian tapped a spoon against his glass.
“I want to say something about my incredible wife.”
Claire almost admired him.
He did not hesitate.
He did not stumble.
He stood in front of their friends and praised the woman he was preparing to betray.
“For fourteen years, Claire has been the person who keeps every part of my life together.”
Paige lowered her eyes.
Julian continued.
“She is loyal, brilliant, patient, and far better than I deserve.”
That part, Claire thought, was true.
Everyone laughed.
Then Julian lifted his glass.
“To Claire.”
Claire raised hers.
“To knowing exactly what you deserve.”
Julian smiled because he did not understand.
Diane did.
For half a second, Claire saw fear cross her face.
After dinner, Diane followed Claire into the restroom.
“Is everything all right?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You seemed distracted during Julian’s toast.”
Claire washed her hands.
“I’m forty.”
She looked at her reflection.
“I suppose birthdays make people think about where they came from.”
The silence behind her changed.
Claire turned.
Diane had gone pale.
“Where did that come from?”
Claire smiled.
“Nowhere.”
Diane studied her.
Then she forced a laugh.
“You always were dramatic on birthdays.”
Claire dried her hands.
“Was I dramatic when I was born?”
The question landed.
Diane’s face froze.
Claire waited.
Finally, Diane said, “I don’t know what you mean.”
Neither woman moved.
Then the restroom door opened.
Paige entered.
She looked from Diane to Claire.
“Everything okay?”
Claire smiled at both women.
“Perfect.”
When Claire returned to the table, Julian’s laptop was open beside his chair.
A notification flashed across the corner of the screen.
PRIVATE CARE FACILITY PAYMENT CONFIRMED.
Patient: Margaret Evans.
Claire memorized the facility name.
Rosewood House.
She had never heard of it.
May you like
But beneath the patient’s false name were two initials.
E.H.
