The Anniversary Surprise

Part 4 – The Woman He Promised to Marry

Vanessa stood outside the front door wearing an expensive cream-colored coat.

She looked nothing like the confident woman I had imagined from Liam’s conversations.

Her eyes were swollen.

“Claire, please. I need to talk to you.”

I stepped outside and closed the door behind me.

“What do you want?”

She swallowed.

“Liam told me you were planning to leave him. He said your marriage had been over for months.”

I stared at her.

“Did he tell you I was three weeks postpartum when he promised to marry you?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“No.”

“Did he tell you we were still sleeping under the same roof? That I was sending him pictures of our newborn daughter while he was telling you he wanted a different life?”

She lowered her head.

“I didn’t know.”

I studied her face.

“How long have you known about Hailey?”

She hesitated.

“Since she was born.”

That answer hurt more than I expected.

“So you knew he had a newborn daughter.”

“I thought he was going to leave you.”

I gave a bitter smile.

“Of course you did. He told you exactly what you wanted to hear.”

Vanessa began crying.

“He’s been lying to me, too. He told me the house was his. He said you had already agreed to a divorce. He promised we would get married next month.”

I said nothing.

She opened her handbag and took out her phone.

“There’s something you should see.”

She showed me several messages.

Liam had been asking her for money.

He had told her he was having financial difficulties and needed help securing an apartment before the divorce.

But the final message made my stomach turn.

Once Claire signs everything, I’ll have access to the inheritance money. Then we can start over properly.

I stared at the screen.

He wasn’t simply planning to leave me.

He had been planning to use my inheritance to build his new life.

Vanessa wiped her tears.

“I sent him money. Almost twenty thousand dollars. He said he’d pay me back.”

I looked at her.

“Then you should speak to an attorney.”

She nodded slowly.

Before leaving, she turned around.

“Claire, I’m sorry.”

I didn’t tell her everything was forgiven.

Some things couldn’t be fixed with an apology.

But I did say one thing.

“Next time a man promises you a future, make sure he’s not stealing someone else’s present to pay for it.”

She walked away.

That evening, Daniel called.

“Claire, we received additional financial records. Liam’s transfers are now documented, and Vanessa’s messages may provide further evidence. We’ll address everything through the court.”

I thanked him.

Then I went upstairs and sat beside Hailey’s crib.

She was sleeping peacefully, her tiny fingers curled around her blanket.

I gently kissed her forehead.

“Your daddy made some terrible choices, sweetheart. But you will never have to carry the weight of them.”

I had no idea what the next few months would bring.

But I knew I was finished being afraid.