Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN SOPHIA UNDERESTIMATED
The investigation into the threats widened.
Julian Reynolds's company had been involved in fraudulent financial activity.
Several former employees were cooperating with investigators.
Sophia had attempted to pressure Adrian into providing money.
When he refused, she became desperate.
Investigators discovered messages suggesting she had encouraged an associate to intimidate me.
Not because I had taken Adrian from her.
But because my divorce had disrupted her plan.
Without Claire in Chicago maintaining Adrian's respectable public image, the media had begun scrutinizing his personal life.
That scrutiny exposed Sophia's financial problems.
She blamed me.
The woman she thought would quietly wait had become the reason her scheme unraveled.
When investigators questioned Sophia, she denied involvement.
But the evidence continued accumulating.
Eventually, charges were filed in connection with harassment and financial misconduct.
I learned the news through my attorney.
I didn't celebrate.
I felt relieved.
Then I returned to work.
That evening, Adrian sent a message through our lawyers.
He had learned about the threats.
He wanted to know whether I was safe.
I considered the question.
Then wrote a short response.
I'm safe. The authorities are handling it. Thank you for respecting my space.
He replied only once.
I'm glad you're safe, Claire.
No demands.
No promises.
No attempts to turn the situation into a reason for us to reunite.
I stared at the message.
Then put my phone away.
It was strange.
The less Adrian tried to control me, the more I could see the man I'd once loved.
May you like
But that didn't mean the damage had disappeared.
And I wasn't going to confuse improvement with entitlement.
