Chapter 8
“And the day you came to Moretti Tower.”
Claire looked away.
Vincent’s voice lowered.
“I saw the security footage.”
She laughed once.
It was a broken sound.
“Congratulations.”
“Claire.”
“You finally checked.”
“I should have checked thirteen months ago.”
“Yes.”
“I should have called you.”
“Yes.”
“I should have come after you.”
“Yes.”
Each answer struck harder because she didn’t raise her voice.
Vincent moved one step closer.
“I was wrong.”
Claire looked at him.
“You think those three words fix this?”
“No.”
“Because they don’t.”
“I know.”
“You missed my entire pregnancy.”
“I know.”
“You know what thirty-four weeks with twins feels like?”
“No.”
“I was terrified every day.”
Vincent said nothing.
Claire’s voice shook.
“I had contractions at twenty-eight weeks. They stopped them. I spent four days in the hospital.”
His face changed.
“I didn’t know.”
“That’s the point.”
She wiped her tears angrily.
“You didn’t know anything.”
Vincent absorbed every word.
“I called you from the hospital.”
He closed his eyes.
“PR-7.”
Claire stared at him.
“What?”
He opened his eyes again.
“I created the restriction that filtered your calls.”
Claire looked almost confused.
“Why?”
“Because I was angry after you left.”
She gave a hollow laugh.
“So you punished me.”
“I thought I was protecting myself from another argument.”
“By making sure I couldn’t reach you?”
“Yes.”
“And Vanessa?”
Vincent hesitated.
Claire noticed.
“What did she do?”
He could have softened it.
Could have waited until Claire was stronger.
Could have protected her from one more betrayal.
But Vincent had done enough deciding what Claire was allowed to know.
So he told her.
“She intercepted the first pregnancy notifications.”
Claire’s face emptied.
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Almost from the beginning.”
Claire looked down at Emma.
Her fingers trembled.
Vincent continued.
“She knew about the twins. She archived several notices.”
Claire’s breathing changed.
“And the day at the tower?”
Vincent’s jaw tightened.
“She lied to you.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“That doesn’t exactly narrow it down.”
“She told you I knew about the babies.”
Claire’s eyes lifted.
“She told me you didn’t care.”
“I know.”
“She said you told her they weren’t your problem.”
“I never said that.”
Claire stared at him.
“I know that now.”
Those words nearly destroyed him.
Because there was no relief in them.
Only exhaustion.
“I fired her.”
Claire’s expression didn’t change.
“That’s your business.”
“Claire—”
“No.”
She looked directly at him.