Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO LOOK AWAY
Vale Manor stood behind iron gates on a wooded estate north of Chicago.
The house was enormous.
Stone walls.
Tall windows.
A private lake.
A library bigger than my childhood apartment.
And enough security cameras to make me wonder whether the squirrels had signed confidentiality agreements.
The housekeeper, Mrs. Eleanor Finch, greeted me warmly.
“Mrs. Vale.”
I froze.
“Claire is fine.”
She smiled.
“Of course, Mrs. Vale.”
Adrian laughed.
I glared at him.
He looked delighted.
Over the next week, I learned the rules.
Security checked every visitor.
No one entered Adrian's private office without permission.
The east wing was restricted.
And family council meetings were never discussed with outsiders.
I broke the last rule on my third day.
Adrian was reading in the library.
I walked in carrying coffee.
“Your uncle hates me.”
He looked up.
“Which one?”
“There's more than one?”
“Unfortunately.”
I sat opposite him.
“Victor.”
His expression changed.
“What did he say?”
“That marrying me was an embarrassment.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“And?”
“That I was a temporary decoration.”
He went still.
I continued.
“So I told him at least decorations improve a room.”
Adrian burst out laughing.
I smiled.
Then his laughter faded.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“Be careful around Victor.”
I studied him.
“Why?”
His eyes darkened.
“Because he's the man leading the effort to remove me.”
I looked toward the hallway.
Then back at Adrian.
“Good.”
He frowned.
“Good?”
May you like
I smiled.
“Now I know who to annoy.”
