Chapter 6 - The Secret David Was Afraid to Tell
The door opened.
Robert stood outside.
He was older than Clara remembered.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Clara."
She didn't answer.
Michael stood beside her.
"How did you find us?"
Robert smiled.
"I have people everywhere."
Clara's stomach tightened.
"You've been watching me."
"I've been protecting you."
"That's what everyone says."
Robert stepped inside.
His eyes landed on the folder.
"Where did you get that?"
"From someone who knew my mother."
Robert's face changed.
For the first time, Clara saw fear.
"Where is she?"
Clara didn't answer.
Robert looked toward the hallway.
"She's gone."
"What did you do to her?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you afraid?"
Robert stared at Clara.
"Because your mother was right."
Clara froze.
"About what?"
Robert closed the door.
"David wasn't supposed to marry you."
"What?"
"He was supposed to stay away from this family."
Clara felt dizzy.
"Why?"
"Because your mother knew what he was investigating."
Michael stepped forward.
"What was David investigating?"
Robert looked at him.
"Hospital fraud."
Clara's heart pounded.
"He was an accountant at the hospital?"
"No."
"He worked for the insurance company."
Michael looked surprised.
Robert continued.
"He discovered a pattern of falsified claims."
Clara remembered David's old job.
The long nights.
The secret phone calls.
The sudden promotions.
She had thought he was building a career.
He had been investigating.
"So why did he marry me?"
Robert's voice softened.
"Because he fell in love with you."
Clara stared.
"Then what happened?"
"He discovered your mother was involved."
Clara shook her head.
"My mother?"
"Not as a criminal."
Robert paused.
"She was trying to expose the system."
Clara closed her eyes.
Everything she had believed was shifting.
"Then who killed her?"
Robert looked toward the folder.
"That's what we were trying to prove."
"Who?"
Robert didn't answer.
Michael stepped closer.
"You're withholding information."
Robert looked at Clara.
"Your mother's death was staged to look like malpractice."
"By whom?"
Robert whispered:
"Dr. Hale."
Clara's breathing stopped.
"Then why did you sign the hospital document?"
Robert looked ashamed.
"Because he threatened your family."
"What did he threaten?"
"Your life."
Silence.
Clara remembered being twenty-four.
Young.
Naive.
Newly married.
David had always told her to trust him.
Robert continued.
"David tried to expose Hale."
"Then why did David lie to me?"
"Because Hale had people watching him."
"And Emily?"
Robert's expression changed.
"Emily isn't his mistress."
Clara stared.
"What?"
"She's an investigator."
Clara's heart skipped.
"An investigator?"
"David hired her."
Clara thought about the Vancouver trip.
The accident.
The timing.
The threats.
"Then why did David tell me she was with him?"
"Because he needed you to believe the affair."
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
"He wanted me angry."
"He wanted you to stay away."
"From what?"
Robert looked at her.
"The investigation."
Clara couldn't speak.
Michael asked:
"Why didn't David simply tell her?"
Robert shook his head.
"Because he believed the only way to keep Clara safe was to make her hate him."
Clara felt something inside her crack.
For years, she had believed David didn't care about her.
She had believed every lie.
Every betrayal.
Every cold remark.
Now she didn't know what to believe.
Her phone rang.
David.
She answered.
"David."
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Are you with Robert?"
"Yes."
"Then listen carefully."
Clara sat down.
"Emily isn't my mistress."
"I know."
"I knew you would eventually find out."
"Why did you hurt me?"
"Because every person I trusted disappeared."
Clara's voice trembled.
"You threatened Lily's hospital bill."
"I know."
"You told me to leave her."
"I needed you to stay away from Vancouver."
"You could have told me the truth."
"I was afraid you wouldn't believe me."
"You could have trusted me."
Silence.
Then David said:
"You're right."
Clara closed her eyes.
It was the first time he had ever admitted it.
"Where are you?"
"Hospital."
"Are you safe?"
"Not completely."
"Who is there?"
"Emily."
"Is she safe?"
"Yes."
David paused.
"Clara, I need you to do something."
"What?"
"Find the original hospital authorization form."
Clara looked at Robert.
"Why?"
"Because the copy is fake."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"The original proves who ordered your mother's treatment changed."
"Who?"
David whispered:
"Dr. Hale."
Clara's hands shook.
"Where is the original?"
David hesitated.
"Your mother hid it."
"Where?"
"In the one place she knew you would never look."
The line went silent.
"David?"
No answer.
Then she heard a crash.
Someone shouting.
Emily screaming.
Clara stood.
"What happened?"
The call disconnected.
Michael grabbed his phone.
"We need to call the hospital."
Clara looked at Robert.
"Where did my mother hide the original?"
Robert's face had gone pale.
"I know."
"Where?"
Robert whispered:
"Inside your wedding album."
Clara stared at him.
Her wedding album had been in her house for ten years.
She had never opened it.
She ran toward the door.
But before she could reach it, her phone received one final message.
From David.
Don't come to the hospital.
A second message appeared.
Someone already knows you're coming.
May you like
Then a third:
And they're waiting for you at home.
