Chapter 13: The Woman Before Me
I read Patricia’s message three times.
Each time, the words felt heavier.
*The woman he destroyed before you may be the reason he chose you.*
For years, I believed my marriage had fallen apart because of Jessica.
Because of an affair.
Because Ryan had met someone new and decided I was no longer enough.
But now I wondered if Jessica was only a symptom.
Not the beginning.
I called Patricia.
She answered after the first ring.
“Emily.””
Her voice sounded tired.
Not confident.
Not defensive.
Just tired.
“Who was she?””
There was silence.
Then Patricia said:
“Her name was Claire.””
I sat down.
“What happened to her?””
Patricia took a deep breath.
“Ryan was engaged to her before he met you.””
My stomach tightened.
“Engaged?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He ended it suddenly.””
“Why?””
Another pause.
“Because Claire found out about the trust.””
The room went quiet.
I gripped the phone.
“What do you mean?””
“Claire discovered Ryan had been asking questions about your family.””
My heart sank.
“He wasn’t even with me yet.””
“No.””
Patricia’s voice became softer.
“He was looking for a way into your life before you knew he existed.””
I closed my eyes.
The truth was becoming clearer.
Ryan didn’t choose me because he loved me.
He chose me because I was an opportunity.
“What happened to Claire?””
Patricia hesitated.
“She confronted him.””
“And?””
“She disappeared from his life.””
“That’s not an answer.””
Patricia sighed.
“Ryan told everyone she was unstable. He convinced people she was obsessed with money.””
I felt sick.
The same story.
The same pattern.
A woman discovers the truth.
Ryan changes the story.
Everyone believes him.
“Did you believe him?””
“No.””
That answer surprised me.
“No?””
“I saw what he did.””
“Then why didn’t you warn me?””
Her silence answered before her words did.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Ryan?””
“Yes.””
I looked around my mother’s kitchen.
A place that once felt safe.
Now it felt like every room held a secret.
“What did Claire find?””
Patricia said quietly:
“She found emails between Ryan and someone else.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
She sounded ashamed.
“But I know she copied them before she left.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Where are those emails?””
“I don’t know.””
I stood.
“Patricia.””
“Yes?””
“If you’re lying to me…”
“I’m not.””
For the first time, I believed her.
Not because I trusted her.
But because I heard something in her voice.
Regret.
“What else should I know?””
Patricia was silent for a long time.
Then she said:
“Ryan didn’t just investigate you.””
I waited.
“He investigated every woman connected to your family.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“Because he believed someone knew how to unlock the trust.””
“And he thought that person was me?””
“Yes.””
I looked at the letter from my grandmother.
The warning.
The fear.
Everything connected.
“Where is Claire now?””
Patricia gave me an address.
“I don’t know if she’ll talk to you.””
“Why?””
“Because the last time she tried to expose Ryan…”
A pause.
“She lost everything.””
I found Claire two days later.
She lived in a small apartment across town.
When she opened the door and saw me, her face changed immediately.
“You’re Emily.””
I froze.
“You know who I am?””
She gave a sad smile.
“Everyone who gets involved with Ryan Carter eventually becomes a story.””
Those words stayed with me.
I stepped inside.
The apartment was simple.
Quiet.
Almost empty.
“You know why I’m here.””
Claire nodded.
“I was wondering when you’d find me.””
I sat down.
“Tell me everything.””
She looked toward the window.
“Ryan wasn’t looking for love.””
The words were familiar.
But hearing them from another woman hurt.
“He was looking for access.””
“To the trust.””
“Yes.””
“Did he know about it before me?””
Claire nodded.
“He knew about your family before he ever met you.””
I felt a wave of anger.
“How?””
“His father had old business connections with your grandfather.””
Claire opened a drawer and pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept copies.””
Inside were printed emails.
The same kind of documents Daniel had found.
But older.
Years older.
One email from Ryan stood out.
*I found her. The granddaughter. I think she is the way in.*
My hands shook.
Found her.
Not met her.
Found her.
Claire watched my reaction.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked up.
“Why didn’t you stop him?””
She looked away.
“I tried.””
“And?””
“He made sure nobody believed me.””
A painful silence filled the room.
Then Claire said:
“But there is something you need to know.””
“What?””
She pointed at another document.
“This was sent after you married Ryan.””
I looked down.
The sender name made my heart stop.
Patricia Carter.
The message was short.
*The plan is failing. Emily knows too much. We need another way.*
I looked at Claire.
“No.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
My fingers tightened around the paper.
Ryan wasn’t working alone.
But the worst part wasn’t discovering another betrayal.
It was realizing someone had been watching me the entire time.
Waiting.
May you like
Planning.
And now they knew I had found the truth.
