The Ultimate Betrayal: My Fiancé And Sister Filmed My Rape For A Headline Chapter 07
Nate’s whole body went tight.
“Claire doesn’t run into trouble like this. What happened?”
He didn’t wait for details. Got the clinic’s address, already reaching for his keys.
Vivian caught his arm at the door.
“Nate. Is something wrong with Claire?”
He told her what little he knew. Her expression shifted, smoothing out into something almost bored.
“Don’t worry. This is her usual move.”
“Every time we fought as kids, she’d fake being sick. Wait for me to come running. She’s a grown woman and she’s still doing it.”
Something in him eased at that. Just slightly.
“You think she’s faking?”
Vivian nodded. “She can’t handle what’s between us. This is how she gets back at me.”
His shoulders dropped. She caught the change, looped her arms around his neck.
“Crisis over. Come here.”
Her fingers were already at his top button when he caught her wrist.
“We already talked about this. Last time. That was the last time.”
“I’m giving you the marriage certificate. But Claire’s still my wife. I’m done doing this to her.”
Vivian’s smile drained off her face. Her hand closed into a fist at her side.
“We look exactly alike. Why can’t you love me instead?”
“I gave you a child.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I told you already. Everything between us started because of her. Whatever I’ve given you, it’s guilt. Nothing more.”
“That’s enough. Don’t say this stuff around Claire.”
He grabbed his coat. Dialed her number.
“Claire—”
The name never made it out whole. Just the recorded voice, over and over, flat.
“She always picks up. This isn’t like her.”
He tried again. Same result.
“I need to get to that clinic.”
Before he reached the door, the nanny called.
“Mr. Hale, the baby’s fever spiked again. You need to come now.”
He stood torn between two directions. The car turned toward the hospital.
He came through the door fast, braced for the worst, and found the girl sitting up fine.
“I thought you said she had a fever.”
The nanny wouldn’t meet his eyes. “She did. She’s better now.”
Something didn’t sit right. Before he could push it, Vivian wrapped herself around him.
“Is it that hard to give us one evening? Me and my daughter?”
“Dinner. Just one dinner. After, I’ll take you to Claire myself.”
“I’ll give you back to her. Stay out of your life for good.”
He watched her hold that expression, patient, wounded. His resolve slipped again.
“Fine. Last time.”
He called the restaurant. Picked the girl up, headed for the door.
The TV mounted in the room cut to a local news segment.
A woman was attacked at a small clinic tonight. Nearly ten stitches to the head. She remains in critical condition.