Chapter 11 - WHAT JULIAN NEVER TOLD HER
Chloe was found less than ten minutes later.
She had been hiding inside a small storage room behind the staircase.
She was frightened but unharmed.
Nora held her tightly.
“Who brought you here?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I came myself.”
“Why?”
“I heard someone downstairs.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Julian searched the house.
There was no sign of an intruder.
But the note remained.
Ask Julian what happened twenty years ago.
Nora waited until Chloe was asleep.
Then she confronted her husband.
“What happened twenty years ago?”
Julian looked exhausted.
“You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
He sat down.
“I was nineteen.”
“I know.”
“My father had disappeared.”
Nora stared.
“You said he died.”
“I didn't know the truth.”
“What happened?”
“Claire came to me.”
Nora's heart stopped.
“You met her?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After everyone said she was dead.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“To protect you.”
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
“From what?”
“From the people who were looking for her.”
“Who?”
Julian shook his head.
“I never learned all their names.”
“Did David know?”
“Yes.”
“Did my mother know?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Nora stepped backward.
“You've known for twenty years.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You married me knowing all of this.”
“Yes.”
“You had a child with me knowing all of this.”
“Yes.”
“And you put yourself in control of Chloe's trust.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Julian looked at her.
“Because Claire asked me to.”
Nora stared.
“Why would Claire trust you?”
Julian's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was the only person she believed could get close enough to you without raising suspicion.”
Nora's heart sank.
“What are you saying?”
“I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.”
Silence.
Nora couldn't speak.
Julian continued.
“But I did.”
Nora turned away.
“And then?”
“Then everything changed.”
“Who changed it?”
Julian didn't answer.
Nora looked back.
“Who?”
Julian whispered:
“Your father.”
Nora froze.
“My father was dead.”
Julian nodded.
“That's what everyone believed.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
Nora picked it up.
Her father stood beside David Vance.
May you like
And beside David was Claire.
The photograph was dated three months after the date of her father's supposed death.
