Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE TRUTH
Three days later, Ryan's mistress contacted me.
Her name was Vanessa Cole.
She sent a message through social media.
Claire, I know you probably hate me, but there's something you need to know.
I stared at it for several minutes.
Then replied.
What?
Her answer arrived almost immediately.
Ryan told me he was divorced.
I closed my eyes.
Of course he had.
Then another message appeared.
He also told me the babies weren't his.
My stomach dropped.
I stared at the screen.
I read the words again.
And again.
Then I typed.
What did you say?
Vanessa replied.
He said you had an affair while he was away and that he was waiting for a paternity test.
My hands began shaking.
Ryan had told his mistress that our daughters might not be his.
The same daughters he'd called every night to ask about.
The same babies whose ultrasound photographs he'd shown to his coworkers.
I felt sick.
Vanessa continued.
I didn't know you were still together. I didn't know he was lying about the babies. When I saw you at the terminal, I realized something was wrong.
I took a breath.
Why are you telling me this?
Her response came slowly.
Because I don't want you thinking you were the only person he lied to.
I stared at the message.
Then I wrote:
Thank you for telling me.
I didn't forgive her.
I didn't become her friend.
May you like
But I understood that Ryan had created more than one false story.
And I was beginning to realize how far his lies extended.
