Chapter 9 - VANESSA BREAKS
Vanessa asked to meet Claire.
Claire refused.
Then agreed only with attorneys present.
Vanessa entered without makeup.
No cream designer dress.
No smug smile.
Claire hated that she looked like their mother when frightened.
Vanessa said:
“I didn’t know about the second account.”
Claire answered:
“You knew about him.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“You recorded me.”
“Yes.”
Claire leaned forward.
“So what exactly do you want me to feel sorry for?”
Vanessa cried.
“Nothing.”
Good answer.
Then she explained the affair.
Adrian told her Claire planned to take:
the company,
the house,
the baby,
everything.
Vanessa believed Claire had always been controlling.
Old sibling resentment made the lie easy.
Adrian told Vanessa:
“She thinks you’re irresponsible.”
Claire laughed.
“I did.”
Vanessa stared.
Claire continued:
“You were.”
That hurt because it was true.
Then Vanessa said:
“He told me if I helped with PR, I could finally build my own business.”
There.
Adrian offered:
money,
status,
romance,
and a chance to stop being Claire’s “messy little sister.”
He understood her insecurity.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“I thought he chose me.”
Claire’s eyes hardened.
“That’s what you said in court.”
Vanessa nodded.
Claire replied:
“He chose leverage.”
Silence.
Then Vanessa handed over her phone.
Full access.
Messages.
Voice notes.
Cloud backups.
May you like
It did not make her innocent.
It made her useful.
