Chapter 3 - The Secret Clare Took to Her Grave
Ethan did not sleep that night.
He stayed in his study until two in the morning, surrounded by old documents.
Clare's journals.
Grace's medical records.
Hospital bills.
Bank statements.
Every scrap of paper he had never bothered to examine.
He discovered more contradictions before sunrise than he could count.
Clare had withdrawn money from a private account eighteen months before Grace's death.
She had visited St. Agnes Hospital seven times.
She had met Sophia twice.
She had made three calls to the same unknown number.
And exactly twenty-seven days before Grace died, Clare had written one sentence in her journal.
If anything happens to me, Ethan cannot trust Vanessa.
Ethan read the line again.
And again.
His hands were numb.
Vanessa had not been in their lives twenty-seven days before Grace died.
She had been a family acquaintance then.
A distant friend of Clare's cousin.
But Clare had known she was dangerous?
Or had she been suspicious of everyone?
Ethan turned another page.
Clare's handwriting became frantic.
Grace isn't the target.
I am.
The next page had been torn out.
The next twelve pages were blank.
He called Daniel at six.
"Bring me every communication Clare had with Vanessa."
There was a pause.
"That's going to take some time."
"You have until breakfast."
Daniel sighed.
"Understood."
At eight, Ethan walked into the kitchen.
Sophia was preparing coffee.
She nearly dropped the mug.
"You shouldn't be working today."
"I need the job."
"You can take the day."
"I can't afford to."
Ethan studied her.
"How much do you owe?"
Her eyes hardened.
"That's not your business."
He almost respected her for that.
"Fair."
She returned to the coffee.
After a moment, she said:
"Are you going to fire me?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because my daughter would have wanted you here."
Sophia's hand stopped.
"Lily isn't your daughter."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Ethan looked at her.
"I know."
Sophia's face fell.
"I didn't mean—"
"You did."
He softened.
"But I don't know what she is to me yet."
Sophia looked away.
"Ethan..."
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"Because of Clare?"
She nodded.
"She made me promise."
"What did she know?"
Sophia's eyes filled.
"That someone was trying to take my baby."
Ethan's heartbeat accelerated.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You must know something."
"I knew enough to be afraid."
Ethan pulled out a chair.
"Sit."
Sophia hesitated.
Then sat.
She folded her hands tightly.
"Three years ago, I worked at St. Agnes. Not as a nurse. I cleaned rooms. I met Clare there."
"Why was she there?"
"She was helping women who couldn't afford medical care."
"She never told me."
"She didn't want you involved."
"Why?"
"Because someone was watching her."
Ethan leaned forward.
"Who?"
Sophia shook her head.
"Clare never said."
"What happened?"
Sophia's eyes moved toward Lily, who was drawing in the corner.
"I was pregnant."
Ethan waited.
"Three months before Lily was born, someone offered me money to give up my baby."
"Who?"
"They wouldn't tell me their name."
"Did you accept?"
"No."
"Then?"
"They threatened me."
Ethan's expression darkened.
"Why would anyone care about your baby?"
"I didn't understand it either."
She swallowed.
"Then Clare started asking questions."
"About your child?"
"About the people threatening me."
"What did she find?"
Sophia looked at him.
"They weren't interested in my baby."
Ethan felt a chill.
"What were they interested in?"
"You."
Silence.
Ethan sat back.
"Me?"
Sophia nodded.
"Clare told me someone wanted to destroy you."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Why would they need your daughter?"
"I don't know."
Ethan rubbed his jaw.
"How did Clare die?"
Sophia's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know."
"You were there."
"No."
"You knew her."
"Yes."
"And then she died."
"Yes."
"And you disappeared."
Sophia looked down.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"That they'd come for Lily next."
Lily approached.
She held another flower.
A yellow one this time.
She handed it to Sophia.
"For Mommy."
Sophia smiled through tears.
"Thank you."
Lily turned to Ethan.
Then handed him another drawing.
This one showed four people.
Ethan.
Clare.
A little girl.
And Lily.
Ethan stared.
"Who is this girl?"
Lily pointed to the first little girl.
"Gracie."
His heart stopped.
"What?"
Lily smiled.
"Gracie."
Sophia stood sharply.
"Lily!"
The child looked confused.
"What?"
Sophia took her hand.
"Go color in the laundry room for Mommy."
Lily nodded and left.
Ethan stood.
"How does she know Grace's name?"
Sophia's voice trembled.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
He stared at her.
Then understood.
Someone had taught Lily.
Someone had told her about Grace.
And that person had been in Ethan's home.
That afternoon, Ethan confronted Vanessa.
She was in his office.
She crossed her legs.
"You look angry."
"I found Clare's journal."
Her expression didn't move.
"What about it?"
"She wrote that she didn't trust you."
Vanessa smiled.
"Clare didn't trust anyone."
"Did she tell you about Grace?"
"Of course."
"Did she tell you about Sophia?"
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"Why would I know anything about a maid?"
"Sophia worked at St. Agnes."
"So?"
"She knew Clare."
"I knew a lot of people through Clare."
Ethan leaned closer.
"Did you know Sophia was pregnant?"
Vanessa's face went pale.
Only for a second.
But Ethan saw it.
"Why would I?"
"Because Clare left a note."
"What note?"
"Protect her."
Vanessa stood.
"You're becoming obsessed."
"I'm asking questions."
"About a dead woman."
"About my family."
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"You've already lost one child. Don't destroy what's left of your life chasing ghosts."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Don't talk about Grace."
"Why? Because it hurts?"
He flinched.
Vanessa smiled sadly.
"You need someone who can bring you back to reality."
Ethan looked at her.
"No."
"What?"
"I need someone who doesn't lie to me."
He took off his engagement ring.
Placed it on the desk.
Vanessa stared.
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
"This is because of the maid."
"No."
He looked into her eyes.
"It's because I finally started paying attention."
Vanessa's expression became cold.
"You'll regret humiliating me."
Ethan stepped back.
"Leave."
She did.
But before she reached the door, she turned.
"You have no idea what Clare did to you."
Ethan froze.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa smiled.
"You'll find out."
She walked away.
That night, Ethan opened the locked drawer of Clare's old desk.
For three years he'd never found the key.
Until now.
He remembered something.
Grace's bracelet.
A tiny silver bracelet with a daisy charm.
Clare had always kept it in her purse.
Ethan searched the desk.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a false bottom.
He lifted it.
Inside was a USB drive.
And a handwritten note.
Ethan,
If you are reading this, then I am gone.
Don't trust the person closest to you.
And more than anything...
Find Lily.
Ethan stopped breathing.
Find Lily.
Not protect Lily.
Find Lily.
He plugged in the drive.
A video opened.
Clare appeared on screen.
She looked tired.
Afraid.
And very pregnant.
Ethan stared.
That wasn't possible.
The recording date was two years and eleven months ago.
Three weeks before Grace's death.
Clare looked directly at the camera.
"Ethan, if you're seeing this, then I wasn't able to tell you the truth."
She paused.
"There are things about Grace you don't know."
Ethan's entire body went cold.
May you like
"Grace isn't gone."
The video stopped.
