Chapter 3 - Vanessa's First DinnerThat evening, Vanessa arrived at the penthouse.
She wore a cream dress.
The kind I had once chosen for our anniversary dinners.
She carried a small suitcase.
Daniel met her at the elevator.
He kissed her cheek.
I watched from the staircase.
Vanessa looked up.
Our eyes met.
She smiled.
Not nervously.
Triumphantly.
“Claire.”
“Vanessa.”
Daniel looked between us.
“Let's keep this civilized.”
I almost laughed.
“Of course.”
Vanessa stepped inside.
She looked around.
“This place is beautiful.”
“It is.”
She smiled.
“I've always loved it.”
I looked at her.
“I know.”
She froze.
Daniel noticed.
“Claire.”
“I said I know.”
I walked toward the dining room.
“Dinner is ready.”
Daniel frowned.
“You cooked?”
“No.”
I gestured toward the table.
“The chef did.”
Vanessa sat beside Daniel.
I sat opposite them.
The entire dinner was surreal.
She discussed her plans for the foundation.
Daniel laughed at her jokes.
She touched his hand.
I watched.
Not because I was jealous.
Because I was studying them.
At one point, Vanessa asked:
“Daniel told me you might be moving out.”
I put down my fork.
“Did he?”
She nodded.
“He said you need some space.”
I smiled.
“How thoughtful of him.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Vanessa continued.
“I don't want there to be tension.”
“There won't be.”
“You're very calm.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I looked directly at her.
“Because you haven't won anything.”
Her smile disappeared.
Daniel spoke.
“Enough.”
I stood.
“Enjoy dinner.”
I walked upstairs.
Behind me, I heard Vanessa whisper:
“She hates me.”
Daniel replied:
“She'll get over it.”
I stopped.
Then I continued walking.
In my office, I opened my laptop.
Evelyn had sent another file.
This one contained security footage.
Daniel had been meeting Vanessa for months.
But there was something else.
A man appeared in several recordings.
Tall.
Gray-haired.
Always standing near Daniel.
I recognized him.
Marcus Bell.
Daniel's longtime accountant.
I called Evelyn.
“Why is Marcus meeting Vanessa?”
“I was hoping you'd tell me.”
I stared at the screen.
Then I noticed the date.
The first meeting had happened nine months ago.
One month before Daniel slept with Vanessa.
Another file appeared.
Corporate transfers.
Twenty-four million dollars.
Then thirty million.
Then twelve million.
All routed through shell companies.
All connected to Marcus.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes?”
“This isn't just an affair.”
“No.”
Her voice was quiet.
“It's a financial operation.”
My stomach tightened.
“Against whom?”
“You.”
I leaned back.
“What?”
“Claire, someone has been moving assets out of your joint holdings.”
“Daniel?”
“We're not certain.”
I stared at the files.
Then I remembered something.
A conversation from three years earlier.
Daniel had asked me:
“Do you still keep those old trust documents your father created?”
I had laughed.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“At the bank.”
He had smiled.
“Good.”
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
Now I wondered.
Had Daniel known?
Had he been trying to locate my father's trust?
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice spoke.
“Mrs. Whitmore.”
“Who is this?”
“Someone who knows what your husband is planning.”
My pulse increased.
“What is he planning?”
“You're not the target.”
“Then who is?”
A pause.
“You are.”
The line went dead.
I sat motionless.
Then I heard a sound behind me.
The office door opened.
Daniel stood there.
“Who was that?”
I closed my laptop.
“No one.”
He stared at me.
“You're hiding something.”
I smiled.
“So are you.”
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then he walked away.
I waited until the door closed.
Only then did I allow myself to breathe.
Because I finally understood.
Vanessa wasn't the biggest problem.
She was a distraction.
May you like
Someone was trying to take control of something much larger.
And my husband might not even be the man holding the knife.
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