Chapter 2
Sadie’s mother was named Jenna Monroe.
Ryan remembered her now.
Six years earlier, before he married Claire, Jenna worked for a property-management company Ryan’s business had hired during the renovation of an apartment complex.
They dated for less than two months.
It ended quietly.
No betrayal.
No dramatic breakup.
They simply wanted different lives.
Ryan met Claire several months later.
Ethan was born the following year.
Ryan had never heard from Jenna again.
Or so he believed.
Jenna’s letter told a different story.
She discovered she was pregnant after leaving the city.
She called Ryan’s company.
Claire answered.
Not because Claire was already Ryan’s wife.
She wasn’t.
At the time she had recently begun working temporarily inside Ryan’s executive office while they were dating.
Ryan had asked her to help reorganize several family accounts after his longtime assistant became ill.
Jenna left a message.
Claire returned it.
She told Jenna that Ryan knew about the pregnancy.
That was false.
Then she told her something worse.
Ryan wanted no contact.
Jenna demanded proof.
Several days later she received an email from Ryan’s business address.
It contained a short statement.
He would provide financial support.
He would not participate personally.
He requested privacy.
Ryan read the printed copy.
“That isn’t mine.”
Allison examined it.
“The email address is yours.”
“I didn’t write it.”
“The signature?”
“Digital.”
“Who had access?”
Ryan looked at Claire.
She closed her eyes.
Allison understood.
Jenna had received monthly payments after Sadie was born.
Two thousand dollars.
Every month.
Regularly.
The account name was Carter Family Support Services.
Ryan had never heard of it.
Claire spoke finally.
“I was protecting us.”
Ryan stared at her.
“From a baby?”
“From a woman who appeared the second we started building a life.”
“She was pregnant before I met you.”
“I know that now.”
Ryan’s expression hardened.
“You knew it then.”
Claire looked away.
That was answer enough.
Sadie remained overnight at a children’s hospital because authorities wanted observation and a safe temporary placement plan.
Ryan went with her.
Claire did not.
Ethan stayed with Ryan’s sister.
At three in the morning Sadie woke and saw Ryan sitting beside the hospital window.
“Daddy?”
Ryan turned.
The word hurt.
He walked over.
“Who told you to call me that?”
“My mom.”
“Did you know me before yesterday?”
Sadie shook her head.
“Mom showed me picture.”
Ryan sat beside her.
“Where is your mom?”
Sadie looked down.
“Hospital.”
Ryan froze.
“What hospital?”
She did not know.
Police found Jenna before sunrise.
She had been admitted to another hospital forty miles away after suffering complications from a car accident three days earlier.
May you like
That explained why Sadie suddenly needed somewhere to go.
It did not explain why Claire had hidden her inside a wall.
