Chapter 9: Vivian's Confession
For a moment, nobody moved.
Vivian stood in the doorway, holding her phone in one hand.
Her expression was different from the one I'd seen at the hotel.
There was no embarrassment.
No nervousness.
Just anger.
"What are you doing here?"" she demanded.
Andrea stepped between us.
"We're conducting an authorized inspection of the property.""
Vivian laughed.
"Authorized by whom?""
"The property owner and relevant legal representatives.""
"That's ridiculous. This is my home.""
I looked around the storage room.
"Your home?""
She raised her chin.
"Marcus and I live here.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
"You live here while my husband tells me he's working late?""
Vivian rolled her eyes.
"You're still calling him your husband?""
I stepped forward.
Andrea gently touched my arm.
"Claire, stay back.""
Vivian noticed the blue box.
Her expression changed.
"Did you open that?""
I looked at her.
"Why? What's inside that you're afraid of?""
"Nothing that concerns you.""
I almost laughed.
"My father's letter is inside. My inheritance is inside. Documents with my forged signature are inside. How much more of my life do you think you can steal before it concerns me?""
Vivian's lips tightened.
"You really don't understand what Marcus has been trying to do.""
"Then explain it.""
She crossed her arms.
"Marcus deserves a life that isn't controlled by his mother.""
"And you deserve my father's money?""
Her eyes flashed.
"That money was sitting there doing nothing.""
"It belonged to me.""
"Marcus built a business. You helped him once, and now you think you own everything.""
I stared at her.
"I helped him because I loved him.""
Vivian laughed.
"That's your problem, Claire. You thought love was enough.""
Andrea took out her phone.
"Ms. Cross, I advise you to stop discussing these financial matters until counsel is present.""
Vivian ignored her.
"You know what Marcus told me?""
I said nothing.
"He said you were weak. That you would sign anything if he kissed your forehead and told you it was for the baby.""
My stomach tightened.
I remembered the kitchen island.
The stack of papers.
His gentle voice.
Just routine paperwork, sweetheart.
I looked at her.
"You knew my signature was forged?""
Vivian hesitated.
Then she smiled.
"I knew Marcus needed a little help.""
Andrea immediately began recording the conversation.
"Please clarify what you mean.""
Vivian looked at her.
"Turn that off.""
"You're on private property, and we are documenting this inspection.""
Vivian stepped closer.
"Marcus told me you wouldn't come here.""
I stared at her.
"Why did he want me to stay away?""
She looked toward the open blue box.
"Because there are things you weren't supposed to know.""
"Like what?""
Her expression hardened.
"Like the fact that the trust was never going to belong to you.""
Andrea interrupted.
"That's incorrect. The documents say otherwise.""
Vivian laughed.
"Documents can be changed.""
"Not without authorization.""
"Marcus had everything arranged.""
I felt my pulse racing.
"Everything?""
She nodded.
"The divorce. The trust amendment. The new company structure. Even the paternity issue.""
I stared at her.
"Why did you want a paternity test?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because Marcus needed a reason to question your rights.""
"Was there ever a reason?""
Vivian shrugged.
"Does it matter?""
I stepped forward.
"You're talking about my daughter.""
"Your daughter?"" she repeated.
"Marcus is the one who was supposed to decide what happened next.""
Andrea's voice became firm.
"Ms. Cross, are you admitting that you participated in submitting false documents?""
Vivian's face changed.
"I didn't forge anything.""
"Did you submit the medical authorization?""
"No.""
"Did you prepare the trust amendment?""
"I helped organize paperwork.""
"Did you know the signatures were not Claire's?""
Vivian looked toward the hallway.
"I don't have to answer your questions.""
Then she turned back to me.
"Marcus told me something else.""
I felt a chill.
"What?""
"He said once the baby was born, everything would become much easier.""
"Why?""
She smiled faintly.
"Because a newborn can't decide where she lives.""
Andrea immediately stepped closer.
"That's enough.""
Vivian ignored her.
"Marcus was going to file for temporary custody. He said the trust would support him because the family needed stability.""
I stared at her.
"You wanted to take my daughter?""
"I wanted a future with Marcus.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
She raised her voice.
"Yes! I wanted the baby out of the way!""
The words echoed through the storage room.
I felt as though someone had punched the air from my lungs.
Andrea looked at the security officer.
"Please make sure the recording is preserved.""
Vivian realized what she'd said.
Her face turned pale.
"That isn't what I meant.""
But it was too late.
I looked at her.
"You hit me because I wouldn't disappear.""
She didn't respond.
"You wanted me to leave that hotel believing I had lost everything. You wanted me to sign away my rights. You wanted my inheritance. And you wanted my daughter.""
Vivian's eyes filled with anger.
"You were supposed to be gone already!""
"Then why is Amelia's name on that wall?""
For the first time, Vivian looked genuinely uncomfortable.
She glanced at the nursery door.
Then she whispered, "Because Marcus promised me she would be mine to raise.""
My legs felt weak.
Andrea immediately guided me toward a chair.
"Claire, sit down.""
Vivian looked at my stomach.
"Marcus said he would make you understand eventually.""
I looked up.
"Where is he?""
She didn't answer.
"Where is Marcus?""
Vivian picked up her phone.
"He knows I'm here.""
As if summoned by her words, a car door slammed outside.
Footsteps approached the garage.
Then Marcus appeared in the doorway.
His eyes went straight to the blue box.
Then to the papers in Andrea's hands.
Finally, he looked at Vivian.
"What did you tell her?""
Vivian pointed at me.
"She's found everything!""
Marcus's face turned red.
He stepped into the room.
"Claire, put those documents down.""
Andrea moved in front of the box.
"Mr. Hale, you need to leave the room.""
He ignored her.
"Those are confidential company records.""
"They include forged personal authorizations and documents belonging to my client," Andrea replied.
Marcus looked at me.
"Claire, please. Don't let this turn into something we can't fix.""
I stared at him.
"You promised Vivian my daughter.""
He froze.
Vivian looked at him.
"You told me she would be mine!""
Marcus turned sharply.
"Shut up.""
That was when I understood something important.
They weren't protecting each other anymore.
They were afraid.
And frightened people sometimes reveal more than they intend.
Marcus took another step toward the blue box.
Andrea raised her hand.
"Do not touch those documents.""
He stopped.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Claire, you need to listen. There's something about your pregnancy that I haven't told you.""
My heart began pounding.
"What?""
He glanced at Vivian.
She shook her head desperately.
"Marcus, don't.""
He swallowed.
Then he said:
"The reason I wanted that paternity test wasn't because I believed you cheated on me.""
I stared at him.
"Then why?""
He looked toward the papers.
"Because the original trust agreement contains a provision that changes everything if the child is born with a particular family connection.""
I frowned.
"What family connection?""
Marcus slowly lowered his voice.
"Your father wasn't just connected to Richard Hale through business.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"What are you talking about?""
He looked at me.
"Your father and Richard were hiding something from both of us.""
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a sealed envelope.
May you like
On the front, in my father's handwriting, were four words:
*Claire Must Never Know.*
