Chapter 1 - the woman with no beginning
Eight months earlier, Claire Hale woke from the same dream she had carried since childhood.
There was smoke in the dream.
A woman was singing somewhere beyond a locked door.
A silver bell rang three times.
Then someone lifted Claire into the darkness and whispered a warning against her hair.
Never let them see the bracelet.
Claire opened her eyes before she could hear the rest.
Morning sunlight came through the curtains of the apartment she shared with Richard. The city below was already moving, but their bedroom felt unnaturally still.
Claire placed a hand against her stomach.
At fourteen weeks pregnant, there was barely a curve beneath her nightgown, but she had begun speaking quietly to the baby whenever Richard was not in the room.
“Just another dream,” she whispered. “We’re all right.”
The bathroom door opened.
Richard walked out, fastening the silver cuff links on his pale blue shirt.
He looked polished even before breakfast. His dark hair was perfectly arranged, and his expression held the calm confidence that had first attracted Claire to him.
“You were talking again,” he said.
“To the baby.”
“To yourself.”
Claire smiled carefully.
“Both, maybe.”
Richard looked at her stomach, but there was no warmth in his face.
“You have the appointment at eleven.”
“I know.”
“My assistant will drive you.”
“I can drive myself.”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Claire studied him.
Richard softened his voice.
“I have meetings all day, and I don’t want you tired. The doctor said you should avoid stress.”
“The doctor said I was healthy.”
“He also said you should be careful.”
Richard leaned down and kissed her forehead.
The gesture should have felt loving.
Instead, Claire felt managed.
He turned toward the door, then noticed the bracelet on her wrist.
“You’re still wearing that old thing?”
Claire instinctively covered it.
“I always wear it.”
“It doesn’t match anything you own.”
“It’s the only thing I had when Miriam found me.”
Richard’s expression tightened at the mention of her foster mother.
“You have a new family now.”
“That doesn’t erase the old one.”
“You never had an old family, Claire. You had people who abandoned you.”
His words struck more sharply than he seemed to realize.
Claire looked away.
Richard sighed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
But they both knew he had.
He picked up his briefcase.
“There’s a hotel event tonight. I need you ready by six.”
“What event?”
“The Waverly Grand centennial announcement.”
Claire looked up.
Richard had recently become financial director for Waverly Hospitality, one of the oldest privately owned hotel groups in the country. He rarely spoke about the company at home, but over the past year, his life had begun to revolve around its accounts, trusts, and board meetings.
“I thought spouses weren’t invited.”
“They are now.”
Richard paused at the door.
“And Claire?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t wear the bracelet tonight.”
She glanced down at it.
“Why?”
“Because Eleanor Waverly notices everything.”
The door closed behind him.
Claire remained still for several seconds.
Then she reached for her phone and called Miriam.
Her foster mother answered after the fifth ring.
“Claire?”
“You sound tired.”
“I’m old. It’s part of the performance.”
Claire smiled.
“Miriam, do you remember the night you found me?”
Silence answered her.
Claire sat straighter.
“Miriam?”
“I remember enough.”
“You told me I was left outside Saint Catherine’s Clinic.”
“That’s where I found you.”
“Was there smoke?”
Another pause.
“Why are you asking?”
“I had the dream again.”
The line crackled.
Miriam lowered her voice.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Is Richard there?”
“No.”
Claire heard her foster mother exhale.
“Come see me tomorrow,” Miriam said. “There are things I should have told you years ago.”
“What things?”
“Not over the phone.”
Claire touched the bracelet.
“Does it have something to do with this?”
Miriam did not answer.
“Miriam?”
“Tomorrow,” she repeated. “And Claire, do not tell Richard you’re coming.”
The call ended.
Claire stared at the screen.
Behind her, the bedroom door stood slightly open.
She had not heard it move.
On the other side of the apartment, Richard remained motionless beside the front entrance.
May you like
He had never left.
And he had heard every word.
