The Last Anniversary

Part 2: The Wife Who Disappeared

Alexander spent the entire night searching for Claire.

By midnight, every hospital in Chicago had received her photograph. His men checked airports, train stations, hotels, and every property he owned.

But Claire was gone.

And for the first time, Alexander couldn’t force the world to give him what he wanted.

At 2:15 a.m., Daniel entered his private office.

“Boss, we found something.”

Alexander immediately stood.

“Where is she?”

“She’s safe. Her attorney took her to a private residence outside Chicago. But there’s something else.”

Daniel placed a document on the desk.

It was a copy of Claire’s divorce petition.

Alexander stared at the first page.

“She filed already?”

“Yes, sir. The paperwork was submitted three weeks ago.”

Three weeks.

Before their anniversary.

Before he had slapped her.

Before he had even known about the baby.

Alexander slowly sat down.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Daniel hesitated.

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“Mrs. Moretti instructed her attorney to keep everything confidential until the anniversary. She wanted to give you one final chance to change.”

Alexander closed his eyes.

One final chance.

And he had spent it welcoming Vanessa into his wife’s seat.

His phone suddenly rang.

Vanessa.

He stared at the screen before answering.

“Alexander, where are you? You left me alone at the hotel.”

For once, he felt no concern.

“Don’t call me again.”

There was a pause.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Alexander, you’re being ridiculous. Claire was the one who ruined everything tonight!”

His voice turned cold.

“She was my wife. She was carrying my child. And I slapped her because you wanted her seat.”

Vanessa became silent.

Then she whispered, “You can’t blame me for that.”

“I’m not blaming you. I’m blaming myself.”

He ended the call.

The following morning, Alexander went to the residence where Claire was staying.

Two security guards blocked his path.

“Sir, Mrs. Moretti doesn’t want visitors.”

“Move.”

“She specifically instructed us not to let you in.”

Alexander looked at them.

Nobody in Chicago had ever dared to refuse him.

But these men weren’t afraid of his reputation.

They were protecting his wife.

After several minutes, Claire’s attorney appeared at the entrance.

“Mr. Moretti, you need to leave.”

“I want to see my wife.”

“Your wife has made her decision.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

“She’s pregnant with my child.”

The attorney looked at him without sympathy.

“Exactly. Which is why she needs peace, not another confrontation.”

From behind the upstairs window, Claire watched him.

Her cheek was still slightly swollen.

One hand rested protectively over her stomach.

For a moment, she wanted to run downstairs.

Not because she had forgiven him.

But because some part of her still remembered the man she had fallen in love with.

Then she remembered his hand striking her face.

She stepped away from the window.

“Tell him I’m not coming back.”

The attorney nodded.

Alexander heard the message.

He stood outside for another twenty minutes before finally leaving.

That evening, Margaret called him.

“Alexander, what is this nonsense about Claire being pregnant?”

He rubbed his forehead.

“It’s true.”

“Then bring her home immediately! She cannot raise a Moretti heir somewhere else.”

Alexander’s expression darkened.

“Mother, she’s not coming home because you and I treated her like she didn’t matter.”

Margaret scoffed.

“Don’t be dramatic. Vanessa has always been part of our family.”

“Then perhaps you should have married her.”

He hung up.

For the first time, Alexander understood that his greatest mistake wasn’t losing Claire.

It was allowing everyone around him to believe she could be disrespected without consequences.

But he still didn’t know the full truth.

Because Claire had left him with something far more important than an ultrasound photograph.

She had left behind a letter.

And inside it was a secret that would change everything.