The Woman Before Me

Evelyn stared at the woman standing on her doorstep.

She was elegant, visibly pregnant, and completely calm despite the late hour.

“I was Adrian's fiancée,” the woman repeated.

Evelyn's fingers tightened around the door.

“Before me?”

“Yes.”

“And the child?”

The woman placed a hand over her stomach.

“Adrian's.”

Evelyn felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her.

She stepped aside.

“Come in.”

The woman entered.

“My name is Clara.”

Evelyn closed the door.

“Show me proof.”

Clara studied her for a moment before reaching into her handbag.

She pulled out a photograph.

Evelyn took it.

Her breath caught.

Adrian was standing beside Clara outside a hospital.

He looked younger.

And unlike the cold man Evelyn knew, he was smiling.

“When was this?”

“Three years ago.”

Evelyn turned the photograph over.

A date was written on the back.

It was two weeks before her wedding to Adrian.

Her stomach twisted.

“You were engaged?”

“Yes.”

“Then what happened?”

Clara's expression became bitter.

“Adrian disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“One day, he stopped answering my calls. He wouldn't see me. I went to his office, but he had already left.”

“And you were pregnant?”

“I found out shortly afterward.”

Evelyn looked at her stomach.

“Did you tell him?”

“I tried.”

Clara pulled out another document.

“I even had a paternity test done.”

Evelyn stared at the result.

Probability of paternity: 99.99%.

She slowly lowered the paper.

“So it's true.”

“Yes.”

Evelyn looked toward the door.

“Why did you come here?”

“I want answers.”

“From Adrian?”

“Yes.”

Clara's eyes became serious.

“But I also came to warn you.”

“About what?”

“Your husband isn't the only person keeping secrets.”

Evelyn frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“Three years ago, something happened between our families.”

“What?”

“I don't know everything.”

Clara looked down at the photograph.

“But I know Adrian didn't simply leave me because he stopped loving me.”

Evelyn's heart tightened.

“Then why?”

“I don't know.”

She paused.

“But I believe someone forced him to choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Between me and you.”

Evelyn stared at her.

“Me?”

Clara nodded.

“And apparently, he chose you.”

Before Evelyn could respond, headlights swept across the living room.

A car had entered the driveway.

Clara's face changed.

“He's back.”

Evelyn's heart began pounding.

The front door opened.

Adrian stepped inside.

His gaze immediately landed on Clara.

He stopped.

“Clara.”

She stood.

“Hello, Adrian.”

His expression hardened.

“What are you doing here?”

“I think you know.”

Adrian's eyes moved to Evelyn.

Then he noticed the paternity test in her hand.

His face changed.

“Evelyn—”

“Is it true?”

He said nothing.

“Adrian.”

His eyes closed briefly.

“Yes.”

The word hit her harder than she expected.

She looked at Clara.

Then back at him.

“You have a child.”

“Not yet.”

Clara's voice was quiet.

“But soon.”

Adrian looked at her.

“I never stopped trying to find you.”

Clara laughed bitterly.

“Three years, Adrian.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You disappeared without explaining anything.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“From what?”

Adrian didn't answer.

Evelyn stepped forward.

“Enough.”

Both of them looked at her.

“You owe me an explanation too.”

Adrian's expression softened.

“I know.”

“Why did you marry me?”

He remained silent.

“Was it because of my father?”

Adrian's eyes sharpened.

“Who told you about your father?”

Evelyn froze.

“So there is something.”

Adrian looked away.

“Your father was involved in something dangerous.”

“What?”

“I can't explain everything tonight.”

Evelyn laughed bitterly.

“Of course you can't.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“Evelyn, listen to me. I married you because I was trying to protect you.”

“From whom?”

His jaw tightened.

“People who wanted your father dead.”

The room went silent.

Evelyn stared at him.

“My father?”

Adrian nodded.

“His death wasn't an accident.”

Her heart stopped.

“What are you saying?”

“I believe your father was murdered.”

Clara looked at Adrian in shock.

“You never told her?”

“I was trying to find proof.”

Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.

“You knew?”

“I suspected.”

“And you said nothing for three years?”

“I thought keeping you close was safer than letting you know.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“You should have trusted me.”

Adrian looked at her.

“I was afraid that if you knew the truth, you'd become a target.”

“For what?”

He hesitated.

“Because your father discovered something about my family.”

Before Evelyn could ask another question, Adrian's phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression immediately changed.

“I have to take this.”

He walked away.

Evelyn watched him answer the call.

“What?”

A pause.

“Where?”

His face became tense.

“I'll handle it.”

He ended the call.

“What happened?” Evelyn asked.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

She almost laughed.

“Everything seems to be something I shouldn't worry about.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Get some rest.”

He turned toward the stairs.

Evelyn stopped him.

“I'm not signing the divorce papers.”

He looked back.

“Good.”

She frowned.

“Why?”

“Because there are things you need to know before you make that decision.”

He walked upstairs.

Clara remained downstairs.

She looked at Evelyn.

“You see what I mean?”

Evelyn stared toward the staircase.

“What?”

“He's protecting you from something.”

Clara picked up her handbag.

“Whatever it is, be careful.”

She walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere Adrian can't find me.”

Evelyn frowned.

“Why?”

Clara looked back.

“Because whoever is behind this doesn't want either of us talking.”

Then she left.

Evelyn stood alone in the living room.

She looked at the divorce papers on the table.

Then at the photograph of Adrian and Clara.

Nothing made sense.

She went upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom.

For nearly an hour, she couldn't sleep.

Then her phone buzzed.

An unknown number.

You want to know what happened to your father?

Evelyn stared at the screen.

Another message appeared.

Go to the old warehouse. Come alone.

Then another.

Don't tell Adrian.

Evelyn's heart began pounding.

She looked toward the bedroom door.

Adrian was somewhere in the house.

She knew she should tell him.

But after three years of secrets, she was done waiting for answers.

She grabbed her coat.

If the truth about her father was waiting at that warehouse, she was going to find it.

Even if she had to go alone..