The Last Night at Home

PART 3 — The Woman He Never Knew

At 8:15 the following morning, Vincent arrived at Moretti Holdings.

He had barely stepped out of the elevator when his assistant rushed toward him.

“Mr. Moretti, we have a problem.”

Vincent loosened his tie.

“What now?”

“The board members are waiting in the conference room. And the company’s legal department has received a formal notice from Mrs. Moretti’s attorney.”

Vincent frowned.

“What notice?”

“Mrs. Moretti is requesting the preservation of all communications and financial records relating to her personal assets and the company.”

He scoffed.

“Claire doesn’t understand how corporate business works. Tell Nathan Brooks to stop encouraging her.”

Before the assistant could respond, Richard called.

“Vincent, come to my office. Immediately.”

Twenty minutes later, Vincent stood in his father’s private office.

Richard placed a document on the desk.

“Do you know what this is?”

Vincent glanced at it.

“Some legal paperwork?”

“It’s the property record for Claire’s riverside mansion.”

Vincent shrugged.

“What about it?”

“Your wife owns it outright. It was transferred to her by her father before your marriage. Her name is the only name on the deed.”

Vincent looked confused.

“I know she inherited a house.”

“Apparently, you don’t know anything about your wife.”

Richard leaned back.

“That property is worth considerably more than you think. And Claire has never asked you for a single dollar.”

Vincent remained silent.

Richard continued.

“Do you know what else? The Bennett family once had significant investments in several companies. Claire’s father was a very successful businessman.”

Vincent frowned.

“I thought her family was ordinary.”

“That’s because you never asked.”

For the first time, Vincent looked uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, I was sitting in Nathan’s office, reviewing the final documents.

My phone rang.

It was an unfamiliar number.

I answered.

“Hello?”

A man’s voice spoke politely.

“Mrs. Moretti, this is Daniel from Bennett Capital. Your father’s former investment director. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

I sat straighter.

“Daniel? Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. Your father’s trust has completed its annual review. We need your authorization for several matters, including the transfer of voting rights in the companies he left to you.”

Nathan looked up from his desk.

I nodded.

“Send everything to my private email. I’ll review it this afternoon.”

After ending the call, Nathan smiled.

“Looks like you’re going to be busy.”

I smiled back.

“My father always said that a woman should never depend on someone else’s name to build her future.”

I had spent three years trying to be Vincent Moretti’s perfect wife.

Now I was ready to become Claire Bennett again.

At 11:40 a.m., Vincent called.

I let it ring twice before answering.

“Claire.”

His voice was cold.

“We need to talk.”

“About the divorce?”

“About your behavior. You’re making things unnecessarily complicated.”

I looked at the papers in front of me.

“Vincent, I haven’t asked for your money, your company, or your properties. What exactly is complicated?”

He hesitated.

“Come home tonight. We can discuss this like adults.”

I almost smiled.

“Home?”

“Yes. Our home.”

“Your belongings are no longer there. And neither is your access code.”

“Claire, stop being childish.”

I stood and walked toward the window.

“Vincent, do you remember our third wedding anniversary?”

Silence.

I continued.

“I waited until midnight. I prepared dinner, bought your favorite wine, and wore the dress you once said made me look beautiful.”

He said nothing.

“You never came home. The next morning, you told me you had fallen asleep at the office.”

I paused.

“But Sophia posted a photograph of the two of you at a private resort that same night.”

“Claire—”

“I don’t need another explanation.”

My voice remained steady.

“I needed a husband three years ago. I don’t need one now.”

Then I ended the call.

Across the city, Vincent stared at his phone.

For the first time, he seemed unable to find the right words.

But the real shock came that afternoon.

During a board meeting, the chairman announced that Bennett Capital had requested a meeting with Moretti Holdings regarding a major investment opportunity.

Vincent barely paid attention until the chairman mentioned the representative’s name.

“Miss Claire Bennett.”

The room went silent.

Vincent slowly raised his head.

“What did you just say?”

The chairman adjusted his glasses.

“Claire Bennett. The daughter and sole heir of the late Robert Bennett.”

Vincent stared at the screen displaying my name.

He had spent three years believing I was simply a quiet woman who had married into his wealthy family.

He had never bothered to discover who I was before becoming Mrs. Moretti.

And now, for the first time, he was about to meet the woman he had never truly known.