Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT ALEXANDER FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH
We sat in the library.
The room smelled of cedar and old leather.
Alexander poured himself a glass of whiskey.
Then set it aside untouched.
“Tell me about Sophia,” I said.
He looked up.
“Everything.”
For a long moment, he was silent.
Then he began.
Sophia had been his childhood friend.
Their families had expected them to marry.
But Alexander's father had arranged our marriage instead.
Sophia resented it.
She believed I had taken the future promised to her.
On our anniversary, she contacted Alexander claiming Graham had discovered a threat against me.
She asked him to meet her at a restaurant where a supposed informant would provide evidence.
Alexander went.
The photograph was taken outside.
“What threat?” I asked.
He looked down.
“A threat involving your family.”
I frowned.
“My family?”
Alexander nodded.
“Your father's old debts.”
I stared.
My father had died when I was seventeen.
He'd been a modest accountant.
There had never been talk of debts.
Alexander continued.
“Graham claimed someone was using your father's name to move money through my companies.”
My stomach tightened.
“And you believed him?”
“I had reason to.”
He looked at me.
“Documents. Transfers. Signatures.”
I shook my head.
“You could have told me.”
Alexander's expression crumpled.
“I should have.”
I stared.
“Then why didn't you?”
His voice became almost inaudible.
“Because I thought keeping you away from my business would keep you safe.”
I laughed bitterly.
“So you humiliated me instead.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
I stood.
“Do you understand what you did to me?”
He looked up.
I continued.
“You made me feel unwanted in my own marriage.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
“No,” I whispered. “You don't.”
I stepped toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Was that night real?”
Alexander frowned.
“What night?”
“The night Oliver was conceived.”
His face changed.
I swallowed.
“You came home. You held me. You said my name like you loved me.”
Alexander stood slowly.
“Claire.”
My voice broke.
“Was I just convenient?”
He crossed the room.
But stopped before touching me.
“No.”
I stared.
He swallowed.
“I loved you then.”
The words shattered something inside me.
“Then why did you treat me like that?”
Alexander looked down.
“Because I was a coward.”
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then I whispered:
“Love doesn't mean much when the person you love feels alone.”
Alexander nodded.
“I know.”
May you like
I walked away.
And this time, he didn't try to stop me.
