Chapter 9 - The Day Nathan Finally Told Her EverythingThere was one final secret.
Nathan carried it for years.
One evening, he told Claire.
“My father knew you were pregnant before anyone else.”
She froze.
“What?”
“He ordered the hospital records monitored.”
Claire stared.
“Why?”
“Because he believed your family would try to take control of the company.”
“So he knew about the children.”
“Yes.”
“Did he know about Daniel's plan?”
“Not everything.”
Claire sat down.
“What else?”
Nathan handed her a letter.
It was from his father.
Written ten years earlier.
Nathan had never read it.
He had been afraid.
Claire opened it.
The letter confessed everything.
The stolen money.
The corruption.
The betrayal.
And one final sentence.
If Claire survives, protect her.
She is the only person who ever saw Nathan for what he could become instead of what he was born into.
Claire cried.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
Nathan looked at her.
“He regretted it.”
“Does that matter?”
“No.”
She handed the letter back.
“But I'm glad I know.”
Nathan sat beside her.
“I didn't tell you because I thought you'd leave.”
Claire looked at him.
“You finally understand?”
“What?”
“Secrets are what nearly destroyed us.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
She took his hand.
“Never hide from me again.”
“I won't.”
The next morning, Nathan surprised her.
He had bought back their first house.
The small house where they had started.
Before the mansion.
Before the company.
Before the affair.
Before everything.
Claire stared.
“Why?”
“So the twins can grow up knowing where their parents began.”
She smiled.
“Let's go inside.”
They walked through the rooms.
Photographs filled the walls.
Their wedding.
Their first Christmas.
Claire's pregnancy.
Nathan holding her stomach.
The early ultrasound.
She began crying.
“You kept these?”
“All of them.”
“You looked so happy.”
“I was.”
“What happened?”
“I got arrogant.”
She looked at him.
“And now?”
He kissed her forehead.
“Now I know happiness isn't guaranteed.”
He pointed toward the family photos.
“It has to be protected.”
Claire hugged him.
For the first time, she believed they might truly have a future.
Not the future Nathan and Vanessa had planned.
Something better.
May you like
Something honest.
Something theirs.
