Chapter 11 - VANESSA'S CONFESSION
Vanessa appeared at Claire’s apartment at two in the morning.
She was soaked from rain.
A cut ran across her forehead.
Claire opened the door in shock.
“Vanessa?”
“Lock it.”
Ethan hurried from the living room.
“We thought you were dead.”
“Someone tried.”
Vanessa dropped a flash drive onto the table.
“My mother isn’t the person you should be afraid of.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“You told someone we were going to Bellmere.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“No.”
“Then how did they know?”
“Because your phone was compromised.”
Claire looked at her phone.
Vanessa nodded.
“So was Ethan’s.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who?”
Vanessa sat down.
“Richard Vale.”
Claire had heard the name.
Chairman of Whitmore Holdings.
Jonathan’s oldest business partner.
“He has been running the company through my mother for twelve years.”
Ethan frowned.
“My father trusted Richard.”
“That was his mistake.”
Vanessa plugged in the flash drive.
Hundreds of files appeared.
Payment records.
Private security reports.
Hospital settlements.
Confidential patient files.
Vanessa opened one folder.
PROJECT CEDAR.
Claire read several pages.
Whitmore Health had conducted unauthorized drug trials on vulnerable patients.
Jonathan discovered them.
He planned to report the company.
Richard Vale stopped him.
Claire looked at Vanessa.
“How?”
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“By using Eleanor.”
Claire stiffened.
“My mother?”
“Eleanor threatened Anna.”
“She helped cover up Jonathan’s death.”
“She arranged your mother’s disappearance.”
“But she didn’t order the killing.”
“Richard did.”
Ethan looked furious.
“Why would Eleanor protect him?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Because he owns her.”
Claire frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa opened another file.
A photograph appeared.
Eleanor stood beside Richard Vale twenty-nine years earlier.
She was pregnant.
Claire looked at Ethan.
Vanessa whispered.
“My mother’s biggest secret isn’t what she did to Anna.”
“It’s who my father is.”
Ethan stared at the photograph.
May you like
Vanessa looked directly at him.
“Richard Vale is my biological father.”
