“She was afraid. I didn’t understand it then. I was angry. Hurt. Proud. I believed what I was shown because it was easier than believing my wife had been cornered by something bigger than us.”
Evan rubbed both hands over his face.
“When Anna came back, she told me Claire wasn’t who I thought she was. I didn’t believe her at first. Claire had been kind to the children. Kind to me. She entered our life when everything was broken, and broken people trust anyone who knows where to place the bandage.”
His voice cracked.
“I married Claire because I thought I was building a home again. But Anna had proof that Claire’s family had been watching us since before the twins were born. Watching Anna. Watching money that was supposed to disappear. Money Anna’s father hid before he died.”
Elise paused the video.
I stared at the frozen image of Evan’s face.
“Anna’s father,” I said.
“Gabriel Vale,” Elise replied. “Former compliance officer for a private banking group. Died six years ago.”
