Chapter 7: The Truth Hidden In Claire’s Past
Richard stared at the photograph on the table.
For several seconds, he couldn’t move.
The image showed Claire standing outside a small café.
She was smiling.
Happy.
Alive.
But she wasn’t alone.
Beside her stood a man Richard had never seen before.
A man holding the hand of a young boy.
Richard picked up the photograph.
His fingers tightened around the edges.
On the back, written in Claire’s handwriting, were the words:
“Ask Claire why she lied.””
But Claire wasn’t here to answer.
And that was what made the picture feel cruel.
Vanessa watched his reaction carefully.
“You recognize her handwriting.””
Richard looked up.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“Where?””
She crossed her arms.
“From Claire’s things.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
Richard looked at the photograph again.
The man beside Claire looked familiar.
Not because he knew him.
Because he had seen his face somewhere.
On an old company record.
On a newspaper article years ago.
Richard’s mind raced.
“Who is he?””
Vanessa smiled slightly.
“You tell me.””
Richard hated that answer.
He turned toward the security director.
“Find out who this man is.””
The director nodded and immediately began searching.
Richard looked back at Vanessa.
“You’ve been holding this over me.””
“I was trying to protect myself.””
“Protect yourself?””
Richard’s voice became colder.
“You manipulated my daughter.””
Vanessa looked away.
“She was always going to be a problem.””
Sophie, standing nearby, grabbed Richard’s hand.
He felt her small fingers trembling.
He immediately moved in front of her.
“Don’t talk about her like that.””
Vanessa laughed quietly.
“You still don’t see it.””
“See what?””
“That Claire created this situation.””
Richard froze.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Claire knew she was dying. She knew you would do anything to protect Sophie. She knew you would never question her.””
Richard’s expression hardened.
“You’re accusing my dead wife because you got caught hurting my daughter?””
“I’m telling you there are things you don’t know.””
The security director returned.
“Sir.””
Richard turned.
The director looked at the photograph.
“We identified the man.””
Richard waited.
“His name is Thomas Reed.””
The name meant nothing.
Then the director continued.
“He was a former executive at Sterling Holdings.””
Richard’s face changed.
A memory surfaced.
Ten years earlier.
Before he became CEO.
Before he built the company into what it was.
Thomas Reed had been accused of financial fraud.
Richard remembered the scandal.
The lawsuits.
The investigation.
The resignation.
But there was something else.
“Why is he with Claire?””
The director hesitated.
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.””
Vanessa spoke from behind them.
“I already know.””
Everyone looked at her.
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“Explain.””
Vanessa looked at Sophie.
Then back at Richard.
“Thomas Reed was Claire’s brother.””
The room went silent.
Richard stared.
“What?””
“Claire never told you.””
“That’s not possible.””
“Isn’t it?””
Richard thought back.
Claire had rarely talked about her family.
She always said they were complicated.
Richard had assumed it was because of old disagreements.
But now…
Everything felt different.
The director searched further.
Then his expression changed.
“Mr. Sterling.””
Richard turned.
“What?””
“We found another record.””
“What record?””
“A medical document.””
Richard frowned.
“Whose?””
The director looked at Sophie.
Then lowered his voice.
“Thomas Reed had a son.””
Richard felt a strange fear.
“What does that have to do with Sophie?””
The director looked at the file.
“The child’s name was listed as Ethan Reed.””
Richard stared.
A name.
A name that suddenly felt familiar.
Because Sophie had mentioned it before.
A name she said Vanessa told her never to repeat.
Richard looked upstairs.
“Sophie.””
The little girl looked at him.
“Who is Ethan?””
Her face changed.
A child’s face should not show that much fear.
“I don’t know.””
Richard knelt.
“You can tell me.””
Sophie shook her head.
“Vanessa said if I talked about him, something bad would happen.””
Richard’s blood ran cold.
He looked at Vanessa.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Then Sophie whispered something.
Something that changed everything.
“He came to the house.””
Richard froze.
“Who?””
“Ethan.””
The room went silent.
“When?””
Sophie hugged her rabbit.
“The night before Vanessa locked me in the pantry.””
Richard stood.
His heart pounding.
Because if Ethan had been in the house…
May you like
Then Vanessa wasn’t acting alone.
And the person behind this was still inside the walls of his home.
