Chapter 10 - HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WRONG WOMANBefore truth emerged, Richard Hale had genuinely fallen in love with Elena.
That became Claire’s punishment too.
During divorce proceedings Hale sent letters.
Not threats.
Confessions.
I loved you.
Was any of it real?
Claire did not answer.
Because worst truth was:
Some moments had been.
Not love.
But companionship.
Laughter.
She had allowed herself to enjoy pieces.
That made her feel contaminated.
Sarah insisted therapy.
Claire finally told therapist entire plan.
Dr. Naomi Patel listened without interruption.
Then:
“Do you want me to tell you this was empowering?”
Claire shook head.
“Good.”
“Because it was also self-harm.”
Claire looked sharply.
“I didn’t hurt myself physically.”
“There are other ways to re-enter trauma.”
“You built intimacy with person tied to it.”
“You slept in house with him.”
“You let nervous system live beside threat for years.”
“For revenge.”
Claire whispered:
“He trusted me.”
Naomi:
“And what did that give you?”
Claire thought.
“Access.”
“Proof?”
“Some.”
“Peace?”
“No.”
“Power?”
Claire hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
“And now?”
“Empty.”
Naomi nodded.
“Then pay attention.”
Claire did not want.
She still believed Melissa and Adrian remained unfinished.
Divorce with Hale became public.
Not because Claire leaked identity, but Caroline eventually disclosed to attorney, court filings exposed connection, reporters found.
Headlines exploded:
PLAINTIFF MARRIED DISGRACED SURGEON YEARS AFTER TRIAL
Public reaction brutal.
Some called Claire mastermind.
Some hero.
Some unstable.
Some accused her of trapping Hale.
Claire stopped reading.
Hale’s lawyers tried portray marriage as fraud.
Claire’s lawyers argued legal marriage entered lawfully, though material personal history concealed.
Asset division became complicated.
Claire did not “steal” his fortune.
She received settlement based on jointly acquired property and negotiated separation.
More importantly, financial discovery opened Ashmere records to scrutiny.
Subpoenas followed after authorities received information through proper channels.
Hale blamed Claire.
For once, partly correctly.
She had created proximity that revealed records.
Yet actual wrongdoing, if any, remained his.
Federal and state investigators began examining payment structures.
Leonard Voss retained counsel.
Thomas Grant became nervous.
Melissa called Hale repeatedly.
Claire never heard calls now.
But Sarah’s sources reported network fracturing.
Claire could have stopped.
She nearly did.
Then a letter arrived.
From woman named Rebecca Sloan.
Former patient.
Rebecca had followed case years earlier.
She wrote:
I reported Dr. Hale two years before you. Hospital told me there was insufficient evidence. When your recording surfaced, I realized I wasn’t crazy.
Claire sat on floor.
Rebecca did not ask revenge.
She thanked Claire for speaking.
That should have redirected her toward constructive path.
Instead it deepened rage.
How many had been ignored because no recorder survived?
Claire called Rebecca eventually.
They spoke two hours.
Rebecca said:
“I don’t care if he loses money.”
“I care that nobody can pretend they didn’t know.”
That sentence shifted Claire.
Not money.
Record.
Exposure.
Truth.
She changed next phase.
Melissa would not be seduced as direct victim? User wanted cặp bồ với họ, chia rẽ tình cảm. We can have Claire become involved with Melissa's estranged husband Thomas, not necessarily explicit. She can enter a consensual romantic relationship after separation, deepening fracture. But need ethically dark. Let's proceed.
Thomas Grant was already living separately.
Publicly marriage intact.
Privately lawyers discussing divorce.
Claire learned through financial investigation.
When Thomas’s consulting company requested risk analyst, Claire applied? That would be too deliberate but okay. She could use legitimate professional network as Elena Byrne? Identity public now, so Thomas would know. Need another look/different face impossible after one surgery again. User said "cô phẫu thuật khuân mặt rồi cặp bồ với họ" maybe after each? Could undergo additional procedures but not want too procedural. Maybe Melissa had never met Claire closely; she knew courtroom face, and after years + changed appearance, could miss at first. But after Hale marriage publicity, Thomas would recognize. Unless Claire uses hair etc but public identity still. So better second target happens before Hale exposure, interleaved chronology. Ah we can reveal Claire had started approach Thomas before Hale identity revealed. We can write chronology that she built multiple phases before reveal. Fine. Let's say while still married to Hale and before public exposure, she took consulting assignment connected to Thomas under Elena Byrne; he didn't know. That works. Let's adjust: At end Ch 9, Thomas hired consultant before reveal. Ch10 can shift back six months earlier. Good.
Six months before Caroline recognized her, Claire had already met Thomas.
That was secret even Hale did not know.
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She was playing two lives.
And that was when revenge stopped being a plan and became an addiction.
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