Chapter 12: Claire’s Hidden Promise
I found Claire sitting alone in her car outside an empty park.
She didn’t look surprised when I opened the passenger door.
“You talked to him.””
It wasn’t a question.
I stared at her.
“You knew.””
Claire looked down.
“I knew about Michael.””
The betrayal felt almost physical.
“How much?””
“Enough.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She wiped her eyes.
“Enough to know Emma was scared.””
I sat down.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I promised her.””
I froze.
“Emma?””
Claire nodded.
“She came to me.””
I stared.
“You and Emma knew each other?””
“Not well.””
“Then why would she come to you?””
Claire took a deep breath.
“Because she had no one else.””
The answer hurt.
Because I realized something terrible.
While I was living my normal life, Emma had been fighting a battle alone.
“What did she ask you to do?””
Claire looked at me.
“To watch over Lily.””
My anger softened slightly.
“Then why search her room?””
“Because I thought the evidence was hidden there.””
“What evidence?””
“Proof that Michael had threatened her.””
I looked away.
“And the locket?””
Claire touched her neck.
“I found it with the letters.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Letters from Emma?””
“Yes.””
“Where are they?””
Claire hesitated.
Then reached into her bag.
She pulled out a small envelope.
My name was on it.
Again.
Emma’s handwriting.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Why didn’t you give me this?””
“Because I wasn’t sure.””
“About what?””
Claire looked at me.
“Whether Emma wanted you to know the truth yet.””
I took the envelope.
My hands shook.
“You don’t get to decide that.””
“I know.””
For once, she didn’t fight me.
I opened the letter.
Only one page.
Only a few words.
Mark,
If you are reading this, then Lily is probably old enough to understand that family is not created by blood.
I swallowed.
The man who helped create her is not the man who raised her.
My eyes burned.
You are her father.
I stopped.
The words hit harder than I expected.
Then I continued.
But I need you to know why I hid the truth.
Michael never wanted Lily because he loved her.
He wanted her because she was proof that he could still control me.
My breathing slowed.
If he comes back, he will try to make you question everything.
Don’t let him.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
The sentence that made me look up at Claire.
Trust the woman who wears my locket, because she knows what I couldn’t tell you.
I stared at Claire.
She started crying.
“I never wanted to replace her.””
The weight of everything finally crashed down.
Claire wasn’t the enemy.
She had been carrying Emma’s secret.
But then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Michael.
A picture.
Lily standing in our backyard.
Taken minutes ago.
My heart stopped.
May you like
Under the picture were five words.
*“Come alone, or lose her.””*
