Chapter 2: What Claire Left Behind
Arthur read the letter twice.
Then a third time.
His hands were steady.
His face was not.
The handwriting belonged to Claire — the children's mother, his oldest friend, the woman Victoria had just called a "de@d friend" without flinching.
But the words inside were not what he expected.
This was not a goodbye letter.
This was not instructions for the children.
It was a confession.
And it named Victoria's father.
Arthur looked up at Ethan.
"How long have you had this?"
"Since the night Mom went to the hospital," Ethan said.
"She made me promise not to open it.
She said give it to you.
Only you."
Maya wiped her face with her sleeve.
"She said Victoria's family would come for it.
She said they already tried once."
Arthur's chest went cold.
"When did they try?"
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Three weeks ago.
A man came to our apartment.
He said he just wanted to talk." He paused.
"He wasn't there to talk."
Arthur looked down at the letter again.
One line near the bottom had been underlined — not by Claire, the ink was different, the pressure harder, like someone had found the letter and marked it in a hurry before putting it back.
Someone else had already read this.
And that someone knew exactly what it proved.
Arthur's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
May you like
He stared at the screen.
It buzzed again.
