Chapter 10: The Signature That Betrayed Me
I stared at the name at the bottom of the document.
For several seconds, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
No.
That wasn’t possible.
Not her.
The witness signature belonged to Claire.
My sister.
The person who had sat beside me while I cried.
The person who told me I wasn’t stupid for trusting Cole.
The person who promised she would help me protect my daughter.
I looked at the document again.
My signature.
Claire’s signature.
A date from eight months earlier.
Before the baby shower.
Before the kiss.
Before everything exploded.
My phone slipped slightly in my hand.
“Emily?””
Claire’s voice came from behind me.
I turned slowly.
She was standing in the nursery doorway.
And the expression on her face changed the moment she saw my phone.
She knew.
That hurt more than anything.
“You knew.””
Her face went pale.
“Emily…”
“You knew.””
“No.””
The speed of her answer almost made me believe her.
Almost.
“Then why is your name on this?””
She walked closer.
“I can explain.””
I laughed.
Everyone had an explanation.
Everyone except the truth.
“You signed a document that gave Cole control.””
“No.””
I held up the phone.
“Your name is right there.””
Claire looked at it.
Then closed her eyes.
A long silence followed.
That silence broke something inside me.
“How long?””
“Emily…”
“How long have you known?””
She sat down on the edge of the crib.
“I didn’t know what it was.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“He told me it was a medical authorization form.””
I stared at her.
“He lied to you too?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I didn’t know.””
I wanted to believe her.
I needed to.
But there was still a question.
“Why did you sign without asking me?””
She looked down.
“Because he was your husband.””
The answer hurt because it was the same reason I had trusted him.
Because he was supposed to be safe.
Claire wiped her face.
“He came to me when you were sick during your first trimester.””
I remembered that time.
I had been exhausted.
Scared.
Nauseous.
Cole had told me to rest.
He had told everyone he was taking care of me.
“He said you were overwhelmed.””
I closed my eyes.
Again.
That word.
Overwhelmed.
The word he used every time he wanted people to doubt me.
“He said he needed backup.””
Claire’s voice cracked.
“I thought I was helping.””
I looked at her.
“You were helping him build a case.””
“I know.””
That was the difference between her and everyone else.
She knew.
She understood.
And she hated herself for it.
But I was still hurt.
“I trusted you.””
“I know.””
“No, Claire.””
My voice broke.
“I trusted you because you were the only person left.””
She started crying.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked away.
I didn’t have room for another apology.
Not tonight.
A knock came from the front door.
Both of us froze.
“Were you expecting someone?”” Claire asked.
I shook my head.
The knock came again.
Slower.
Heavier.
I walked toward the living room.
Claire followed.
When I opened the door, my heart sank.
Cole stood there.
He looked exhausted.
But I didn’t feel sympathy.
Not anymore.
“Leave.””
“Emily, please.””
“No.””
He looked past me.
At Claire.
Then back at me.
“I know what you found.””
“Good.””
“I know it looks bad.””
I almost smiled.
“Looks bad?””
He lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand the situation.””
I stepped closer.
“No. You don’t understand.””
His expression changed.
“You thought you could write my story for me.””
“Emily—”
“You thought you could make me look unstable.””
“That’s not what happened.””
“You hired someone to collect evidence against me.””
He looked away.
That was enough.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
“You really think I’m the only one who wanted custody?””
I froze.
“What?””
Cole looked at Claire.
Then back at me.
“You should ask your sister what she signed before you trust her.””
I turned toward Claire.
Her face changed.
May you like
And I knew.
There was another secret.
