CHAPTER 3 — THE WOMAN IN RED
CHAPTER 3 — THE WOMAN IN RED
The gunshot echoed through the room.
Claire stopped breathing.
The screen froze.
One frame.
Her father.
His face twisted in terror.
Claire standing across from him.
A gun in her hand.
Then darkness.
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Lily was still in Claire's arms.
The little girl's fingers were curled tightly into the fabric of Claire's uniform.
Claire stared at the blank screen.
“I didn't do it.”
Julian said nothing.
“Tell me I didn't do it.”
His eyes were full of tears.
“Claire…”
“Tell me.”
He looked away.
That was enough.
Claire's knees weakened.
Vivian caught her before she fell.
For the first time that night, the woman in the crimson dress wasn't looking at Claire with jealousy.
She was looking at her with pity.
And fear.
“Sit down,” Vivian whispered.
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“You're shaking.”
“I need to know.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Claire, there are things you don't remember.”
She turned toward him.
“Then make me remember.”
He stopped.
“You can't.”
“Why?”
“Because your memory was damaged.”
“By who?”
Julian looked at Marcus.
Marcus answered:
“By someone who knew exactly what they were doing.”
Claire looked at Vivian.
The blonde woman was staring at Julian.
Not Claire.
Julian.
And something in her expression had changed.
“You knew,” Vivian whispered.
Julian looked at her.
“What?”
“You knew she was alive.”
“No.”
“You knew about the child.”
Julian's silence was answer enough.
Vivian's face went pale.
“You knew.”
Julian looked away.
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“That's what you told her too, didn't you?”
Julian said nothing.
Vivian stepped backward.
Six months.
Six months of dinners.
Six months of flowers.
Six months of expensive gifts.
Six months of Julian telling her that Claire had died.
Six months of believing she was finally going to marry the man she loved.
Now she realized she hadn't been his future.
She had been his cover.
THE RING
Vivian slowly removed the diamond ring from her finger.
The stone caught the dim light.
She stared at it.
“You gave me this three months ago.”
Julian nodded.
“You said it belonged to your mother.”
“Yes.”
“You said she wore it when she married your father.”
Julian's expression changed.
“She did.”
Vivian turned the ring over.
“There is a name engraved inside.”
Claire looked at her.
“What name?”
Vivian showed it to her.
C.B.
Claire's heart stopped.
Those were her initials.
Claire Bennett.
She looked at Julian.
“Why does your mother's ring have my initials?”
Julian didn't answer.
Vivian's breathing became unsteady.
“Because it isn't his mother's ring.”
Claire stared.
“Then whose is it?”
Vivian looked at Julian.
“Yours.”
Claire touched the engraving.
She remembered something.
A wedding.
Flowers.
Julian's hands around hers.
A ring.
Then a voice.
Her father's voice.
“Never take it off.”
Claire's eyes filled.
“This was mine.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
Vivian's face hardened.
“You gave me her wedding ring.”
Julian whispered:
“I didn't know you'd find out.”
Vivian stared at him.
“You didn't know?”
She laughed.
“You didn't know?”
She threw the ring at his chest.
It struck him and fell to the floor.
“You told me she was dead.”
“She was supposed to be.”
Vivian froze.
“What?”
Julian immediately regretted the words.
Claire looked at him.
“Supposed to be?”
Julian didn't answer.
Vivian stepped closer.
“You knew she wasn't dead.”
“No.”
“You knew she was supposed to die.”
Silence.
Vivian's voice became quiet.
“Did you plan it?”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
He looked at Claire.
“I can't tell you.”
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
“You never loved me.”
Julian looked at her.
“I cared about you.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
He didn't answer.
Vivian nodded slowly.
“That tells me everything.”
THE WOMAN IN RED
Vivian walked away.
Claire watched her.
The woman in the crimson gown no longer looked like a wealthy heiress.
She looked like another victim.
Claire called after her.
“Vivian.”
She stopped.
Claire hesitated.
“I know what you think.”
Vivian turned.
“What do I think?”
“That I destroyed your life.”
Vivian shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Julian.
“He did.”
Claire stared.
Vivian continued:
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did I.”
“You were his wife.”
“Yes.”
“And he was going to marry me.”
“Yes.”
Vivian wiped her tears.
“Then maybe we're both idiots.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Maybe.”
Vivian looked toward Lily.
“She is beautiful.”
Claire's eyes softened.
“She is.”
“Does she know who you are?”
Claire shook her head.
“Not really.”
Vivian looked at Julian.
“She knows who he is.”
Julian looked down.
“Yes.”
Vivian's voice became colder.
“And she knows who I am.”
Julian frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Vivian smiled sadly.
“She calls me Auntie.”
Claire looked at her.
“You've met her before?”
Vivian nodded.
“Many times.”
Claire's heart tightened.
“When?”
“Every Sunday.”
Julian looked shocked.
“Vivian…”
“You thought I didn't know?”
She looked at him.
“You told me Lily was your niece.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Vivian turned toward Claire.
“I believed you.”
Claire stared.
“You didn't know?”
“No.”
Vivian's expression changed.
“But I always thought something was wrong.”
“What?”
“Lily looked like you.”
Claire froze.
“How did you know what I looked like?”
Vivian answered:
“Julian showed me photographs.”
Claire looked at Julian.
He had kept photographs of her.
All these years.
Vivian continued:
“He said they were old family pictures.”
Claire whispered:
“They weren't.”
“No.”
Vivian shook her head.
“They were pictures of you.”
THE FIRST LIE
Vivian sat down.
Claire sat across from her.
For the first time, they were alone.
Julian stood near the door.
Lily played quietly with a small bracelet.
Vivian looked at Claire.
“I need to tell you something.”
Claire nodded.
“Six months ago, Julian came to my father.”
“Why?”
“He wanted access to our hotel accounts.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
“He said he wanted to invest.”
“And your father agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vivian smiled bitterly.
“Because he trusted Julian.”
Claire looked toward Julian.
“Did your father know about me?”
“No.”
“About Lily?”
“No.”
“Then what did Julian tell him?”
“That he was a widower.”
Claire's stomach turned.
“He used my death.”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
Vivian looked at her.
“Control.”
“What kind?”
“My father owns forty percent of the hotel empire.”
Claire stared.
“And Julian wanted it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he needed the hotels.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
Vivian lowered her voice.
“Because the hotels were being used to move money.”
Claire froze.
“Money from where?”
“I don't know.”
“Who does?”
Vivian looked toward Julian.
“He does.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Vivian, stop.”
She turned.
“No.”
“Don't do this.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Vivian laughed.
“You really need a new excuse.”
Julian's face hardened.
Vivian continued.
“You told me the hotel group was clean.”
“It is.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I found the transfers.”
Julian froze.
“What transfers?”
Vivian smiled.
“That's right.”
She reached into her handbag.
And pulled out a folder.
Claire looked at it.
“What is that?”
Vivian placed it on the table.
“Your husband's second secret.”
THE SECOND SECRET
Claire opened the folder.
Inside were financial statements.
Bank transfers.
Company names.
Dates.
Addresses.
She scanned them.
Then stopped.
One company appeared repeatedly.
CROSS ATLANTIC HOLDINGS.
Julian's company.
Claire looked at him.
“You told me this company didn't exist.”
“It didn't.”
“Then what is this?”
“A shell.”
“For what?”
Julian didn't answer.
Vivian did.
“Human trafficking.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
Vivian shook her head.
“Not the kind you're thinking.”
Claire stared.
“Then what?”
“Identities.”
Claire frowned.
Vivian explained:
“They buy dead people's identities.”
Claire looked at the USB.
“Like the man in the car.”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“They use the identities to move money.”
Claire's stomach turned.
“How many?”
Vivian answered:
“Hundreds.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Claire looked at him.
“You were part of this.”
“I was.”
“Why?”
“Because I had no choice.”
Claire laughed.
“Again.”
Julian looked at her.
“This time it's true.”
“Then prove it.”
Julian said nothing.
Vivian looked at Claire.
“I think I can.”
THE RED DRESS
Vivian stood.
She walked to the mirror.
The crimson dress looked almost absurd now.
Too beautiful.
Too expensive.
Too perfect.
She looked at herself.
Then at Claire.
“I wore this tonight because Julian said he wanted to announce our engagement.”
Claire's expression changed.
“Tonight?”
Vivian nodded.
“He promised me he would make it official.”
Claire looked at Julian.
He didn't deny it.
Vivian smiled sadly.
“I spent three hours getting ready.”
She touched the diamond necklace around her throat.
“He bought this for me.”
Claire looked at it.
“It's beautiful.”
“Yes.”
Vivian pulled it off.
Then handed it to Claire.
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“Take it.”
“Why?”
“Because it was never mine.”
Claire stared.
Vivian smiled.
“It belonged to you.”
Claire looked at Julian.
He whispered:
“Vivian…”
She turned toward him.
“You gave me her necklace too.”
Julian looked down.
“Yes.”
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
“You took everything from her.”
Then she looked at Claire.
“And I wore it.”
Claire felt a strange ache in her chest.
She took the necklace.
Not because she wanted it.
But because she understood what it represented.
A woman who had unknowingly worn another woman's life.
THE MESSAGE
A phone vibrated.
Julian's.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
Claire noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Show me.”
“Claire—”
“Show me.”
He didn't.
Vivian stepped closer.
“What did you get?”
Julian locked the phone.
“Nothing.”
Vivian snatched it from his hand.
Julian grabbed her wrist.
“Give it back.”
She struggled.
Claire stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Julian released her.
Vivian looked at the screen.
A message.
Unknown number.
SHE HAS THE USB.
Another message arrived.
DO NOT LET HER LEAVE THE HOTEL.
Vivian's face went pale.
She showed Claire.
Claire stared.
“They know.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“The hotel system.”
Vivian looked at him.
“You said this hotel was safe.”
“It was.”
“Until she came.”
Julian looked at Claire.
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Until she opened the USB.”
A third message appeared.
BRING CLAIRE TO ROOM 1709.
Then another.
ALONE.
Julian's hands began to shake.
Claire looked at him.
“Who sent it?”
He didn't answer.
Vivian did.
“I know that number.”
Claire turned.
“How?”
Vivian stared at the screen.
“Because I've received messages from it before.”
“When?”
“Whenever Julian disappeared.”
Claire frowned.
“What did they say?”
Vivian swallowed.
“They always said the same thing.”
“What?”
She looked at Julian.
“Don't trust your fiancé.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Claire stared at him.
“You received warnings about him?”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed?”
Vivian nodded.
“Because I thought someone was trying to break us apart.”
Claire looked at her.
“And now?”
Vivian smiled sadly.
“Now I think they were trying to save me.”
ROOM 1709
Julian refused to go.
Claire insisted.
“I need answers.”
“Room 1709 is a trap.”
“I know.”
“Then why go?”
“Because the person who sent the message knows something about me.”
Vivian shook her head.
“Don't.”
Claire looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because I went there once.”
“What happened?”
Vivian's face went pale.
“I found a woman.”
Claire froze.
“What woman?”
“I don't know.”
“What did she look like?”
Vivian hesitated.
“She looked like you.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“What?”
“She was sitting on the floor.”
“Was she alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
“She told me to run.”
Claire stared.
“What did she say?”
Vivian whispered:
“She said, ‘If Claire comes back, tell her the child was never the target.’”
Claire couldn't breathe.
“What was the target?”
Vivian shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Claire looked at Julian.
He was pale.
“You know.”
Julian didn't answer.
“You know what she meant.”
Silence.
Claire stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Julian finally whispered:
“Your father.”
THE LAST CONFESSION
Julian sat down.
He looked exhausted.
For the first time, he seemed older.
Much older.
“I didn't fake my death to steal your money.”
Claire stared.
“I know.”
“I did it because your father wanted me dead.”
“Why?”
“Because I found out what he was doing.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“He wasn't running the empire.”
“What?”
“He was working for someone.”
“Who?”
Julian looked at Vivian.
Then Claire.
“Your mother.”
Claire froze.
“My mother is dead.”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“What?”
“She isn't.”
Vivian stepped backward.
Julian continued:
“Your mother disappeared the same week you were declared dead.”
Claire whispered:
“That's impossible.”
“She changed her identity.”
“Why?”
“Because she was the person behind the money.”
Claire stared at him.
“Then why did my father die?”
Julian looked away.
“He didn't.”
Claire felt dizzy.
“Then who died?”
Julian didn't answer.
A soft sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Everyone turned.
The door handle moved.
Julian immediately stood.
“Don't open it.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
His voice was barely audible.
“Because whoever is outside knows where Lily is.”
The handle turned again.
Vivian moved beside Claire.
The door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
Black coat.
Dark glasses.
Silver hair.
Claire stared.
The woman removed her glasses.
Claire's breath caught.
She knew that face.
Not from photographs.
Not from memories.
From childhood.
Her mother's face.
Alive.
Standing in front of her.
The woman looked at Claire.
Then at Lily.
Her lips trembled.
“My God.”
Claire couldn't move.
Her mother whispered:
“You found her.”
Claire's voice broke.
“Found who?”
Her mother looked at Lily.
“Your daughter.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Why did you leave me?”
Her mother began crying.
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
Claire shook her head.
“Everyone says that.”
Her mother looked at Julian.
Then Vivian.
Then Marcus.
Finally back at Claire.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
Her mother whispered:
“Your daughter wasn't the secret.”
Claire's blood ran cold.
“Then what was?”
Her mother's eyes filled with fear.
“You were.”
The lights went out.
A gunshot exploded somewhere in the hallway.
Lily screamed.
Julian grabbed Claire.
Vivian pulled Lily behind her.
And in the darkness, Claire heard her mother's voice whisper one final sentence:
“Don't let them take the woman in red.”
Then silence.
May you like
When the emergency lights came on—
Vivian was gone.
