LOGINThursday morning came with grey skies and rain.I woke up in Lucas's bed before he did. I slipped out quietly and went to check on Ethan.My son was awake in his crib, making small babbling sounds. When he saw me, he smiled.I picked him up and held him close. "Today is the day," I whispered. "Today everything changes."Ethan grabbed at my hair, perfectly content."Soon, baby. Soon you will be safe. Soon Lucas will be gone and you will be mine again. Your real mother.""Morning."I turned. Lucas stood in the doorway, his hair messy from sleep."I was just checking on him," I said."You are going to be such a good mother to him. Better than Rachel ever was."The words made me want to scream. But I just smiled."Thank you.""Come back to bed. Ethan can wait.""Actually, I need to head home. I have an early meeting with Diana about the wedding."Lucas's face fell. "Already? I was hoping we could spend the morning together.""I know. But wedding planning waits for no one." I kissed his ch
I spent the afternoon packing an overnight bag for Lucas's place.Simple clothes. Toiletries. The engagement ring that felt heavier each time I put it on.My phone buzzed with a text from Kieran."I gave everything to Detective Martinez. She is reviewing it now. Should have the arrest warrant by Thursday."Thursday. Two days away.I could survive two more days.Another text came through."Be careful tonight. I mean it."I typed back. "I will."But my hands were shaking as I closed the overnight bag.I arrived at Lucas's penthouse at seven exactly. He greeted me with flowers and a kiss on the cheek."You look beautiful," he said. "You always do.""Thank you."The apartment smelled amazing. Lucas had actually cooked this time. Pasta with homemade sauce. Garlic bread. A bottle of expensive wine.We ate dinner and talked. Lucas told me about a new business deal. About wedding plans. About how excited he was for our future together.I smiled and nodded and responded at the right moments. P
Kieran called the next morning while I was still staring at the wedding dress hanging in my closet."We need to meet. I have the full financial analysis. You need to see this.""Where?""My office. One hour. Come alone."I dressed quickly and took a taxi to the Vaughn building downtown. It was a glass tower that reflected the morning sun like a mirror. Inside, everything was marble and steel. The kind of building designed to intimidate.Kieran's office was on the top floor. His assistant waved me through immediately.The office was enormous. Floor to ceiling windows showing the entire city. A desk that looked like it cost more than most apartments. And covering every surface were papers and files.Kieran stood at his desk, studying documents. He looked tired. Like he had been up all night."Close the door," he said.I closed it and walked over to him."What did you find?"Kieran pushed a stack of papers toward me. "Everything. The full financial picture of Lucas Hart's relationship wi
The bridal boutique was in the most expensive part of the city.Lucas had insisted on the best. He wanted me to have the perfect dress. The perfect wedding. Everything Rachel never had.Diana met me outside at ten in the morning. She wore her usual sharp business attire and carried a large coffee."Ready for this?" she asked."As ready as I will ever be."Inside, the boutique was all white and gold. Mirrors everywhere. Soft music playing. The kind of place where dresses cost more than most people's yearly salary.A woman in her fifties greeted us. Her name tag said Margot. She had obviously been told to treat me like royalty."Miss Craslow. What an honor. Mr. Hart told me you need something spectacular. Something worthy of the most beautiful bride.""Something simple would be fine.""Nonsense. We have the most exquisite collection. Come. Let me show you."Margot led us to a private room lined with wedding gowns. Each one was more elaborate than the last. Lace and silk and crystals. Tr
Kieran drove us to the Vaughn estate in silence.The tension in the car was thick. I could feel him processing what I had said. "Your son." Those two words had changed everything.We pulled through the gates and up the long driveway. But before we reached the main house, Kieran turned down a side path. He parked near a small garden house hidden by trees."My father is home," he said. "We cannot talk in the main house. Too many ears."We got out and walked to the garden house. It was beautiful inside. All windows and light. A private space away from the rest of the estate.Kieran poured us both water and sat down across from me."Tell me," he said simply.So I did.I told him everything. About being Rachel Hart. About the marriage to Lucas. About giving birth to Ethan. About Alice coming into my hospital room with poison. About Lucas watching me die.I told him about waking up in Raven's body. About the confusion and terror. About finding out I had been cremated. About learning that Lu
I arrived at Marco's fifteen minutes early.The restaurant was busy with the lunch crowd. I chose a table near the window with a view of the waterfront. Somewhere public. Somewhere Alice would feel safe enough to talk.The recording pen was clipped to my jacket pocket. Kieran had tested it three times that morning to make sure it worked perfectly. He had also positioned two of his security team at nearby tables. They looked like business people having lunch. No one would suspect they were there to protect me.Alice arrived exactly at one o'clock. She wore black and looked tired. Like she had not been sleeping well."Thank you for meeting me," I said as she sat down."I almost did not come. I thought maybe this was a trap. That you would tell Lucas and he would use it against me somehow.""I did not tell Lucas. I want to hear what you have to say."The waiter appeared and took our orders. Alice ordered wine immediately. A full glass. She drank half of it before the food even arrived."







