Chapter 6 - THE SECOND LIFE IN PROVIDENCEElena’s apartment was small.
Claire saw it two days later.
By then the wedding had been officially postponed, not yet legally canceled because there was no marriage license signed.
News had spread socially but Beaumont family kept statement minimal.
Claire wanted no tabloid war.
She traveled to Providence with Martin and Julian.
Not to inspect Elena.
To understand Adrian’s second life.
Elena hesitated before inviting them.
“It looks ridiculous compared to your hotel.”
Claire:
“I’m not here for your furniture.”
Inside:
baby clothes folded in baskets.
Crib half assembled.
Two mugs.
Men’s shoes near closet.
Adrian’s.
Elena opened drawer.
Shirts.
Toiletries.
Watch charger.
He had a life.
Not occasional affair.
Claire picked up book on nightstand.
Adrian’s initials inside.
Elena:
“He stayed sometimes three nights.”
“How did he explain?”
“Boston consulting.”
Claire did same mental calendar.
There were times Adrian told Claire he had insomnia and needed space before major deal.
He slept in Providence.
Elena showed lease.
Adrian had co-signed under his own name.
He could not deny.
Rent partly paid from Whitmore Strategic account.
Financial trail.
Then nursery.
Painted pale blue-gray.
Adrian had chosen.
Elena touched crib.
“He wanted neutral color because we didn’t know sex yet.”
Claire looked away.
This was intimacy.
Different from hotel sex.
He made plans.
On wall was framed ultrasound.
Under it handwritten card:
Can’t wait to meet you, Sophie. Love, Dad.
Claire felt Elena’s humiliation.
“He denied knowing you.”
“I know.”
“Then used baby.”
Elena nodded.
“I wanted to throw this away.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Sophie—Grace—whatever you name her someday, may want proof her father acknowledged.”
Elena looked.
“You still think legally.”
Claire:
“It’s how I survive.”
Elena smiled weakly.
Then they found folder.
Adrian had left accidentally perhaps.
WSP CAPITAL ROUND
Inside numbers.
Target $25m.
Committed $20.6m.
Gap $4.4m.
Projected anchor investor:
B.A.D.F.
Beaumont Atlantic Development Fund.
Claire sat.
There it was.
Her family fund listed as expected investor before she approved.
Date:
six weeks ago.
Elena:
“What is it?”
Claire explained.
Adrian planned on Beaumont money.
Whether through Claire naïvely approving or post-marriage authority.
Martin photographed.
This transformed from betrayal to potential financial misrepresentation.
Did Adrian tell his investors Beaumont committed?
Need investigate.
If yes, fraud.
Claire asked Elena:
“Did he ever mention Beaumont by name?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“He said rich Boston family was almost committed.”
“Anything else?”
“He said once he married into ‘right network,’ fundraising would never be problem again.”
Claire went still.
“He said married?”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“I thought he meant someday when we married.”
Maybe he was speaking about Claire without naming.
A hidden tell.
Then Elena found voicemail.
Adrian, from two weeks before wedding:
“Just get through this month. I swear after Boston closes, I’m done living two lives.”
Elena had interpreted:
travel vs family.
Claire heard:
two women.
What did “done” mean?
Which life would he choose?
No proof.
Claire no longer needed answer.
He had already chosen deception.
Before leaving, she stood in nursery.
Elena said:
“I hate that he touched everything.”
Claire understood.
Her own wedding flowers now felt contaminated.
But she told Elena:
“The room belongs to your daughter now.”
Not him.
Elena touched crib.
Maybe.
Outside, Julian whispered:
“He’s finished.”
Claire:
“Not until facts.”
Julian admired sister.
She refused revenge before evidence.
May you like
But evidence was accumulating.
And Adrian’s second life had left receipts.
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