Chapter 16 - THE WOMAN HER HUSBAND COULDN’T IGNOREThomas Grant never forgave Claire.
Not fully.
Months after breakup he agreed meet once.
Public café.
“You wanted closure?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I owe you apology.”
He laughed.
“You think apology fixes?”
“No.”
Claire looked directly.
“I used your marriage problems.”
“I let you believe I was someone unconnected.”
“I entered your life with motive you did not know.”
“That was wrong.”
Thomas studied.
“You loved me?”
Claire answered honestly.
“No.”
His face hardened.
“But I cared.”
“That’s worse.”
“I know.”
He stood to leave.
Then sat again.
“Why me?”
“Because Melissa loved you.”
Thomas closed eyes.
“So I was weapon.”
“Yes.”
“Do you hear yourself?”
“Yes.”
Claire’s voice shook.
“That’s why I’m stopping.”
Thomas stared.
“Are you?”
Claire did not answer.
He knew.
“Adrian.”
She froze.
Thomas laughed sadly.
“You’re going after Cross.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know pattern now.”
He leaned.
“Claire, Cross is not Hale.”
“He’s worse in different way.”
“You think?”
“I know more than you.”
Claire’s pulse changed.
Thomas looked around.
Then:
“After release, Adrian started advisory group.”
“Medical devices.”
“Private clinics.”
“He also became middleman for complaints.”
“What does that mean?”
“Doctors with problems paid him to make problems disappear.”
“Lawyers.”
“Settlements.”
“Nondisclosure agreements.”
“Connections to Voss.”
Claire’s anger sharpened.
“You funded it?”
“No.”
“I stopped giving money after Melissa and I separated.”
“Did you know?”
“I suspected.”
“Why not report?”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“Because I was tired.”
Claire stared.
Everyone tired.
Victims carried consequences because powerful people were tired.
Thomas continued:
“I’m telling you now.”
“Tell authorities.”
“I already did.”
Claire blinked.
He had.
Thomas handed card.
Investigator contact.
“Do not play undercover wife again.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Not funny.”
“I’m serious.”
He stood.
“You hurt me.”
“But that doesn’t mean I want you dead.”
Claire watched leave.
That sentence stayed.
Her enemies sometimes had more compassion than she expected.
Revenge had simplified people.
Reality kept complicating.
Still Adrian Cross represented something new.
He was not just third man in room.
He had learned from scandal.
Adapted.
Built business helping others survive complaints.
Claire wanted inside.
Not romantically this time.
Professionally.
She applied to conference where his firm sponsored panel.
Used own now-public identity?
Impossible to deceive.
So instead she attended openly.
Adrian saw Claire Bennett across lobby and nearly dropped coffee.
That was better.
No disguise.
No game.
Claire walked toward him.
“Dr. Cross.”
He whispered:
“What do you want?”
Claire smiled.
“To talk.”
Adrian backed away.
“No.”
“Then why are you scared?”
“I’m not.”
“You should stop using that line.”
Adrian left.
Claire did not follow.
She had changed method.
No more seduction.
No more hidden identities.
If Adrian fell, he would know exactly who was watching.
May you like
That made him more dangerous.
And more likely to make mistakes.
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