Chapter 7 - TWO SISTERS
Claire Reed was Vanessa's younger sister by three years.
Same blonde hair.
Same height.
Same taste in jewelry.
She had arrived at the villa that afternoon and planned to stay through the weekend.
Adrian looked between them.
"Which one of you carried Oliver downstairs?"
Claire shook her head.
"Not me."
Vanessa snapped, "Then why are you wearing my bracelet?"
"Because you gave it to me before dinner."
"I did not."
Claire's face hardened.
"You handed it to me in the guest room and said it clashed with your dress."
Ramon zoomed the hallway frame.
The person wore a white robe.
Claire had worn a white robe.
So had Vanessa.
The sisters stared at each other.
Maria suddenly remembered hearing an argument earlier that evening.
Claire had said, "I'm not helping you scare him anymore."
Vanessa had answered, "Then keep your mouth shut."
Adrian looked at Maria.
"You heard that?"
"Yes."
Claire began crying.
"This was supposed to be about the prenup."
Vanessa screamed, "Claire!"
Too late.
Adrian turned.
"What prenup?"
Claire sat down.
She said Vanessa believed Adrian planned to change their marriage agreement before the wedding.
She had been trying to make him afraid of losing custody of Oliver.
Afraid enough to sign whatever Vanessa put in front of him.
Maria frowned.
"Oliver isn't her son."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Oliver's mother, Isabella, had died eleven months earlier.
Vanessa entered Adrian's life four months after that.
Claire wiped her face.
"Vanessa said if Adrian believed Maria was dangerous around Oliver, he would need a new legal guardian in the house."
Everyone went silent.
Adrian looked at Vanessa.
"You were trying to get Maria fired."
Claire whispered, "Not just fired."
Adrian's eyes moved to her.
May you like
Claire swallowed.
"She wanted Maria arrested."
