Chapter 3: The Woman in Mara’s Face
Vivian moved fast.
Too fast.
Within days, she was visiting the Harrow estate, touching Mara’s old piano, wearing perfume similar to Mara’s, learning Noah’s favorite bedtime stories.
Ethan wanted to believe it was coincidence.
Claire knew better.
One afternoon, while Noah played in the garden, Claire found Vivian in Mara’s old bedroom.
The closet was open.
Mara’s dresses were spread across the bed.
“What are you doing?” Claire asked.
Vivian turned slowly.
Her smile was perfect.
“Be careful, waitress,” she said. “Men like Ethan don’t keep women like you around.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“No. But boys like Noah remember who makes them feel safe.”
That was the moment Vivian stopped pretending.
That evening, she told Ethan Claire had been confusing Noah, making him call her “Mom,” trying to replace Mara.
Ethan confronted Claire in the hallway.
“Tell me it isn’t true.”
Claire’s face hardened with hurt.
“You hired me to protect his heart,” she said. “Now you’re punishing me because someone else learned how to use your grief against you.”
Ethan said nothing.
May you like
And that silence cost him everything.
Because the next morning, Noah was gone.
