Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS AFRAID OF HER HUSBAND
Claire woke fully two days later.
She was weak.
Her voice was rough after the breathing tube was removed.
And every movement exhausted her.
Rachel warned me not to overwhelm her.
I agreed.
Then I entered the room.
Claire looked toward the door.
When she saw me, her expression tightened.
"Vincent."
Her voice was barely audible.
I approached slowly.
"Hi, sweetheart."
She looked away.
I stopped.
"Claire?"
Her eyes filled.
"Don't call me that."
The words hit harder than any bullet I'd ever taken.
I stood beside the bed, unable to speak.
She swallowed.
"Where's Julian?"
"The police are looking for him."
Her breathing quickened.
Rachel stepped closer.
"Claire, you're safe here."
Claire looked at her.
Then back at me.
"Did he tell you?"
I frowned.
"Tell me what?"
She closed her eyes.
"That Vincent ordered it."
The room went silent.
I stared.
"What?"
Claire's eyes filled.
"Julian said you wanted me gone."
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
"No."
She turned her face away.
"He showed me documents."
"What documents?"
"Divorce papers."
My chest tightened.
"He said you'd signed them."
I shook my head.
"I never signed divorce papers."
Claire looked at me.
"Then why was Vanessa living in the Lexington apartment?"
I couldn't answer.
Because the answer was shameful.
Because I'd betrayed her.
Because I'd spent months pretending my marriage could survive without honesty.
Claire began crying.
"I knew about her, Vincent."
I closed my eyes.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Her voice broke.
"I knew before you admitted anything. I saw the messages. I smelled her perfume. I watched you leave our bed to answer her calls."
I stood frozen.
She continued.
"I kept waiting for you to choose me."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"And then Julian told me you wanted me dead."
I shook my head.
"Claire, I would never—"
"You already destroyed me."
The words stopped me.
Rachel stepped forward.
"Mr. Hale, she needs rest."
I nodded.
I wanted to defend myself.
To explain.
To beg.
But for once, I understood that my pain wasn't the most important thing in the room.
I stepped backward.
"Claire, I'm sorry."
She closed her eyes.
I left.
In the hallway, I leaned against the wall.
Theo approached.
"Boss?"
I shook my head.
"Not now."
He hesitated.
"Julian's been spotted near the north harbor."
I looked up.
"Tell Ellis."
Theo nodded.
Then said quietly, "You know she might never forgive you."
I stared at him.
"I know."
That night, I returned to my empty house.
Claire's shoes were still beside the door.
Her favorite book lay open on the living room table.
A half-finished crossword puzzle sat near the window.
I walked into our bedroom.
Her pillow smelled faintly of lavender.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
And for the first time, I understood the difference between losing someone and driving them away.
One was tragedy.
The other was a choice.
I'd made mine.
May you like
Now Claire would have to make hers.
And I had no right to decide what that choice should be.
