Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Wanted My Marriage
The first article appeared at seven forty-two on a Monday morning.
By eight, it had been shared thousands of times.
By nine, reporters were calling Claire's employer.
The headline read:
CHICAGO BUSINESS TYCOON'S SECRET FAMILY CRISIS: PREGNANT WIFE WALKS OUT AFTER DISPUTE OVER CHILDHOOD FRIEND'S SON.
Claire discovered it while sitting at her kitchen table with a bowl of oatmeal she could barely stomach.
The article contained photographs from Noah's sports day.
Vincent running beside Noah.
Sophia smiling with her arm around Vincent.
Teresa wearing an expensive cream-colored dress, standing proudly beside them.
There was also a quotation attributed to an unnamed family friend.
Mrs. Moretti reportedly became furious over her husband's devotion to a child who needed a father figure.
Claire read the sentence three times.
Then she saw the next paragraph.
Sources claim the disagreement intensified when Mrs. Moretti discovered she was pregnant.
Her stomach dropped.
Someone had leaked her pregnancy.
She'd told her parents, her physician, Nadia, and Vincent through his discovery of the medical report.
Vincent's parents knew.
A handful of people in the Moretti household knew because of the family argument.
But she hadn't announced it publicly.
She hadn't even decided when she wanted to tell her extended family.
Now strangers were discussing her pregnancy beneath photographs of another woman wearing matching clothes with her husband.
One comment read:
Imagine being jealous of a seven-year-old.
Another said:
If she can't accept her husband helping a child, maybe she shouldn't be a mother.
Claire closed the article.
For a moment, she sat perfectly still.
Then she ran to the bathroom and was sick.
By the time she returned, Nadia had called three times.
"Claire, don't respond publicly," Nadia said the moment she answered. "We're documenting the article and contacting the publication."
Claire sat on the floor beside the couch.
"Who told them?"
"We don't know yet."
"Vincent?"
"I haven't seen evidence that he did. His lawyer has already contacted me."
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Of course he has."
"Claire, listen. Your pregnancy and personal medical details should not have been disclosed this way. We can take steps to protect your privacy."
Claire pressed a hand to her forehead.
"I left to get away from all of this."
"I know."
"And now everyone thinks I'm some horrible woman who hates a little boy."
Nadia's voice remained steady.
"Then we'll make sure you're not forced into a public argument you never agreed to have."
That afternoon, Vincent saw the article during a business meeting.
Dominic handed him a tablet.
Vincent read the headline.
Then he read the quotation.
His expression changed so sharply that the men around the table stopped speaking.
"Who gave them this?"
Dominic shook his head.
"We're looking into it."
Vincent stood.
"The meeting's over."
One of his senior associates frowned.
"Vincent, we haven't discussed the shipping contracts."
"Then discuss them without me."
He walked into his office and called Sophia.
She answered cheerfully.
"Vincent, I was just about to call you."
"Did you speak to the press?"
Silence.
"What?"
"Did you give someone those photographs?"
Sophia sighed.
"Oh, Vincent. Everyone has seen the sports day pictures. They're public."
"That wasn't my question."
She grew defensive.
"A woman from an entertainment website contacted me. I answered a few questions."
Vincent closed his eyes.
"What questions?"
"She asked whether Noah considered you his father."
"And what did you say?"
"The truth."
"Which is?"
"That you've been there for him more than Daniel ever was."
Vincent gripped the edge of his desk.
"Did you tell her Claire is pregnant?"
Sophia hesitated.
"Your mother mentioned it at lunch."
Vincent's voice became dangerously quiet.
"What lunch?"
"Teresa invited me over yesterday. She was upset about the divorce."
Vincent remembered the boundary he'd set.
Neither of his parents was supposed to involve themselves in Claire's pregnancy or interfere with the separation.
Teresa had ignored him.
Again.
"What exactly did my mother say?"
Sophia sounded irritated.
"She said Claire had finally given you a child, but she'd chosen the worst possible time to announce it."
Vincent stared at the wall.
His own mother had reduced Claire's pregnancy to an inconvenience in a family dispute.
"And you told a reporter?"
"I didn't think it was a secret."
"You had no right."
Sophia's voice sharpened.
"Why does everything have to be about Claire now? For two years, you told Noah you'd always be there for him."
"I intend to handle my relationship with Noah responsibly. That doesn't give you the right to expose my wife's medical information."
Sophia gave a bitter laugh.
"Your wife? I thought she wanted a divorce."
"She does."
"Then stop acting like she owns you!"
Vincent was silent for a long moment.
Then he said, "You won't speak to the press about Claire again. Our attorneys will handle any further communication necessary."
Sophia began crying.
He waited.
For two years, tears had always been the end of their arguments.
Vincent would apologize.
Sophia would tell him he was the only person she could rely on.
And the cycle would begin again.
This time, he didn't offer another rescue.
"I hope Noah's doing well," he said.
Sophia stopped crying abruptly.
"That's all?"
"That's all."
He ended the call.
Then he called his mother.
Teresa answered with annoyance.
"Vincent, I've been trying to reach you. Have you seen what they're saying about Claire? It's embarrassing for the family."
"Did you tell Sophia about the pregnancy?"
Teresa hesitated.
"I may have mentioned it."
"Did you know she was speaking to reporters?"
"Absolutely not."
"You knew Claire wanted privacy."
Teresa sighed.
"She's carrying a Moretti child. We can't pretend that isn't important."
Vincent stared out over the city.
For most of his life, he'd accepted his mother's belief that the family's reputation came before individual feelings.
He'd watched his father make decisions that harmed people and heard the same excuse.
Everything is for the family.
Now he realized that the phrase could become permission to destroy the very people it claimed to protect.
"You're not to contact Sophia about my marriage again," he said.
Teresa bristled.
"You don't get to dictate whom I see."
"No. But you don't get to use information about Claire or our child to manipulate either of us."
"Vincent—"
"I'm removing your access to the family medical benefits account and the household information systems. Any legitimate matter concerning me will go through my office."
His mother gasped.
"You can't mean that."
"I do."
"Your father will hear about this."
"Then tell him."
Vincent ended the call.
An hour later, Carlo Moretti arrived at his office.
He entered without knocking.
"You've lost your mind."
Vincent remained seated.
"Good afternoon, Father."
"Your mother is in tears."
"She's responsible for her own decisions."
Carlo slammed a hand onto the desk.
"She was trying to protect this family."
"By humiliating my wife?"
"Your wife walked out on you."
"Because I gave her reasons to."
Carlo stared at him.
For the first time, Vincent saw something other than anger in his father's eyes.
Disappointment.
Not because Vincent had failed as a husband.
Because he was refusing to use his power like a Moretti.
"You've become weak," Carlo said.
Vincent stood.
"Maybe."
Carlo narrowed his eyes.
"You let a woman leave your house. You let her attorneys dictate terms. Now you're alienating your own mother."
Vincent walked around the desk.
"Claire is a person, not a possession."
Carlo scoffed.
"Don't lecture me about marriage."
"Then don't teach me how to destroy mine."
The room went silent.
Carlo's expression hardened.
"Everything you have came from this family."
Vincent met his gaze.
"Everything except the woman who loved me before she knew what my last name meant."
For several seconds, father and son stared at each other.
Then Carlo spoke.
"I don't think you understand what this pregnancy means."
Vincent frowned.
"What?"
"A Moretti heir. A legitimate child of your blood. People will want access."
Vincent felt a cold sensation spread through him.
Carlo continued.
"There are men who will see Claire as the easiest way to reach you."
Vincent's face hardened.
"Is that a warning?"
"It's reality."
"Then we'll protect her without making her a prisoner."
Carlo shook his head.
"You can't protect a woman who refuses to live under your roof."
Vincent moved closer.
"Watch me."
That evening, Claire received a statement from Vincent's attorney.
It had been prepared for the publication responsible for the article, but Vincent wanted Claire's approval before releasing anything.
The draft was brief.
My wife has never mistreated or expressed hostility toward Noah Reynolds.
Our marital difficulties are the result of my decisions, for which I take responsibility.
Noah is a child who deserves privacy and love from the adults responsible for him.
Claire also deserves privacy, particularly regarding her pregnancy and medical care.
I ask that neither she nor Noah be targeted or harassed.
Claire read it slowly.
No excuses.
No accusation against Sophia.
No attempt to make himself look heroic.
Just responsibility.
She approved the release after Nadia suggested several changes.
The statement appeared the following morning.
Some people continued attacking Claire.
Others began questioning why Vincent had been acting as Noah's father for two years while married to someone else.
But the most important result came from a person Claire hadn't expected.
Daniel Reynolds.
He called Nadia and asked permission to send Claire a message.
Nadia forwarded it.
Claire, I read Vincent's statement. I know it won't erase what happened, but I'm glad he finally told the truth about you. Noah has a counseling appointment next week, and we're working toward more consistent contact. I wanted you to know that none of this was your fault to carry.
Claire looked at the message.
Then she began crying.
Not because she wanted Vincent back.
But because someone had finally acknowledged that she had spent two years carrying the emotional consequences of decisions she never made.
A week later, Claire attended her next prenatal appointment.
She was almost sixteen weeks pregnant.
The ultrasound showed a tiny figure moving across the screen.
An arm.
A leg.
A small head turning as though the baby were already curious about the world.
Claire laughed through her tears.
"Look at you."
The technician smiled.
"Very active today."
Claire watched the movement.
She knew the image couldn't tell her everything about the future.
But the physician was pleased with the baby's development.
Before leaving, Claire requested the new image.
This time, she didn't crumple it.
She placed it carefully in her handbag.
That afternoon, she bought a small white frame.
She set the ultrasound on the bookshelf beside her architectural drawings.
Then she took a photograph and sent it to Nadia.
You can share this with Vincent. I think he should know the baby is doing well.
Vincent received the image at six seventeen that evening.
He was alone in his office.
For a long moment, he stared at the screen.
Then he pressed his fingers against his mouth.
His child.
Growing.
Moving.
Alive.
He wanted to call Claire.
He wanted to tell her that the photograph was beautiful.
He wanted to ask whether she'd eaten, whether she was sleeping, whether she needed anything.
Instead, he wrote a short reply through the agreed channel.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm glad you're both doing well. I won't ask for anything more than you're comfortable giving.
Claire read it before going to bed.
For the first time, she didn't feel anger when she saw his name.
She felt sadness.
And something smaller.
More dangerous.
Hope.
But the following morning, Vincent received another call from Dominic.
His voice was tense.
"Boss, there's a problem."
Vincent straightened.
"What happened?"
"Your cousin Marco has been asking questions about Claire's location."
Vincent went still.
"Why?"
Dominic hesitated.
"He told two men that your father wants the mother of the Moretti heir brought back into the family."
Vincent's expression turned cold.
"Has anyone approached her?"
"Not yet, as far as we know."
Vincent stood.
"Find out exactly what Marco's doing. And call our attorney."
Dominic paused.
"Boss?"
"Claire left me because I wouldn't respect her choices."
May you like
Vincent picked up his keys.
"I will not let my family make that mistake for me again."
