Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Warnings
I didn't tell Marcus about the phone call.
Not immediately.
That was something I never thought I would do.
Keep a secret from my husband.
But everything had changed.
Trust was no longer something I gave freely.
It was something people had to earn.
Marcus left that afternoon.
He took two suitcases.
Not because he wanted to.
Because I told him to.
Before he walked out, he looked at our family photos hanging on the wall.
Our wedding picture.
Caleb's first birthday.
Maya's kindergarten graduation.
His face broke when he looked at them.
For a moment, I saw the man I married.
The man who held my hand during childbirth.
The man who stayed awake all night when our son had pneumonia.
The man who danced with me in our kitchen when we got good news.
And that was the hardest part.
Because people weren't just good or bad.
Sometimes they were both.
Sometimes the person who gave you your happiest memories was also the person who caused your deepest pain.
After he left, I sat on the couch for hours.
I didn't cry.
I wanted to.
But I couldn't.
My body was exhausted from too many shocks.
At five in the evening, Renee came over.
She brought food.
I didn't eat.
She sat beside me.
"Claire.""
I stared at the television.
It wasn't even on.
"I don't know who I married.""
Renee grabbed my hand.
"Yes, you do.""
I looked at her.
"No.""
My voice cracked.
"I knew the version he showed me.""
Renee was quiet.
Then she asked:
"Do you believe he never loved you?""
That question hurt.
Because I didn't know.
And not knowing was worse.
"I don't know.""
The next morning, I made a decision.
I needed answers.
Not from Marcus.
From someone who wasn't afraid to tell me the truth.
I called Natalie.
She answered immediately.
"I was wondering when you'd call.""
I hated that she was right.
"Where are you?""
She gave me an address.
A coffee shop thirty minutes away.
I almost canceled.
Meeting the woman who had been pregnant with my husband's baby felt impossible.
But I needed information.
When I arrived, Natalie was sitting alone by the window.
Without the crowd.
Without the drama.
She looked different.
Human.
Not the villain I wanted her to be.
She stood when she saw me.
"Thank you for coming.""
I sat down.
"I don't know why I'm here.""
"Yes, you do.""
I sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
Natalie looked at her hands.
"I know you hate me.""
"I don't know you enough to hate you.""
That surprised her.
"But I should.""
I looked away.
"I should hate you.""
She nodded.
"I understand.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked:
"Did you know he was married?""
Natalie's eyes filled with guilt.
"No.""
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
"Explain.""
"I met Marcus eight months ago.""
"Eight months?""
She nodded.
"He told me he was separated.""
My heart tightened.
"Separated?""
"He said his marriage was over.""
I looked down.
Of course.
Another lie.
"He said he was going to leave you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Did he?""
Natalie looked away.
"No.""
The honesty surprised me.
"He kept saying he needed more time.""
"And you believed him?""
She looked sad.
"Yes.""
I studied her.
Because despite everything, I saw something familiar.
She had been fooled too.
"What happened?""
Natalie took a breath.
"Three months ago, I found out I was pregnant.""
I nodded.
"I know.""
"But then I discovered Vanessa.""
There it was again.
That name.
"What did Vanessa have to do with you?""
Natalie leaned closer.
"She contacted me.""
"Why?""
"She said Marcus had a pattern.""
My stomach tightened.
"A pattern?""
Natalie nodded.
"She said Marcus always creates a new life before destroying the old one.""
I didn't speak.
Because that sounded impossible.
But then again...
So did everything else.
"What did she show you?""
Natalie reached into her purse.
She pulled out her phone.
"I have messages.""
She handed it to me.
The screen showed conversations between Vanessa and Natalie.
The first message was simple.
Do you know who Marcus really is?
I scrolled.
Another message:
He told you he loved you. He told me the same thing.
Another:
He doesn't leave women. He replaces them.
My chest tightened.
Then I saw the final message.
The one that made my blood run cold.
I found out about Claire.
She needs to know what happened before it's too late.
I looked at Natalie.
"When did she send this?""
Natalie's face changed.
"Three days ago.""
"Before she disappeared?""
She nodded.
I stared at the screen.
Three days ago.
The warning.
The gift bag.
The photographs.
Everything was connected.
But one question remained.
"Why did Vanessa disappear?""
Natalie looked at me.
"Because she was about to expose Marcus.""
My heart pounded.
"Expose what?""
May you like
Natalie whispered:
"Something he did before you ever met him.""
