Chapter 7: The Woman Claire Feared
For ten years, I had believed Olivia was a name from the past.
A mistake.
A chapter Claire wanted closed.
But when that voice came through my phone, I felt like the ground beneath me disappeared.
“Olivia?””
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered, “You remember me.””
How could I forget?
Olivia had been Claire’s closest friend before everything changed.
She was there during the hardest years of our marriage.
She was there during Claire’s pregnancy.
And then, suddenly, she vanished.
Claire had refused to explain.
She only told me one thing.
“Marcus, promise me you’ll never let Olivia near Maya.””
At the time, I thought it was because of an argument between friends.
Now I wasn’t so sure.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“I’m not asking you to trust me,” Olivia replied.
“I know I don’t deserve that.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then why are you calling?””
“Because Vanessa has started using the truth against you.””
I looked at the photograph of Maya’s birth certificate on my screen.
“What truth?””
Olivia took a shaky breath.
“The truth about Maya’s birth.””
My heart pounded.
“Are you saying Maya isn’t my daughter?””
“No.””
Her answer came immediately.
“She is your daughter.””
I closed my eyes.
A wave of relief hit me.
Then confusion replaced it.
“Then explain what you meant.””
“I need to show you something.””
I almost refused.
Everything about this felt like another trap.
Another person trying to pull my family apart.
But then I remembered Maya’s face.
The fear in her eyes.
The way she asked if she was in trouble.
I couldn’t ignore anything anymore.
“Where?””
“An old storage building on Oak Street.””
I recognized the location.
It was where Claire kept her things before she got sick.
“Why there?””
“Because Claire left something behind.””
I was silent.
“Marcus,” Olivia said quietly, “if you want to know why Vanessa targeted Maya, you need to understand what happened before Claire died.””
I drove there alone.
I didn’t tell Maya.
I didn’t tell anyone.
The building looked abandoned.
The paint was peeling.
The windows were covered in dust.
But when I walked inside, Olivia was waiting.
She looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Like someone who had been carrying a secret for years.
“You look like Claire,” she said.
I immediately became defensive.
“Don’t.””
She looked down.
“You’re right.””
I stayed near the door.
“Talk.””
Olivia nodded.
“Vanessa didn’t become close to Claire by accident.””
“What do you mean?””
“She approached her.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she knew Claire was sick.””
The same anger I felt before returned.
“She targeted my wife?””
Olivia nodded.
“She believed Claire’s illness would eventually leave you alone.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Olivia looked away.
“Because I was scared.””
“Of Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
That surprised me.
“What could she possibly do to you?””
Olivia opened a small box sitting on the table.
Inside were letters.
Photos.
Documents.
“She threatened me.””
I picked up one of the papers.
It was a message from Vanessa.
If you tell Marcus, I’ll make sure everyone knows what you did.
I looked at Olivia.
“What did you do?””
Her face changed.
“I made one mistake.””
The room became quiet.
“What mistake?””
Olivia sat down.
“When Claire was pregnant with Maya, she had complications.””
I waited.
“She needed a blood transfusion.””
My confusion grew.
“Okay.””
“During that time, there was paperwork confusion at the hospital.””
I stared at her.
“What paperwork?””
Olivia looked directly at me.
“The birth records.””
My stomach tightened.
“Are you saying the birth certificate is wrong?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“Maya is Claire’s daughter. She is yours.””
“Then what is Vanessa trying to prove?””
Olivia looked at the floor.
“That Claire almost lost custody of Maya before she was even born.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“Because someone reported her.””
“Who?””
Olivia didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
I already knew.
Vanessa.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From Maya.
Daddy, someone came to the house.
My blood turned cold.
I called immediately.
She answered after one ring.
“Daddy?””
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“Are you alone?””
“No.””
I heard fear in her voice.
“Who’s there?””
A pause.
Then Maya whispered:
“She says she’s my grandmother.””
I looked at Olivia.
Her face went pale.
Because she knew exactly who Maya was talking about.
May you like
And then Olivia said something that made my blood run cold.
“Marcus… Claire’s mother has been dead for six years.””
