Chapter 62 62

Chapter 62 62
The phone in Clara’s grip felt like a block of ice, ready to freeze her palm. The atmosphere in the suite’s living room, which moments ago had felt warm with the lingering sound of Alexander’s laughter, suddenly turned into a chilling silence. Maria was busy in the kitchen preparing milk for Noah, while Michael had taken Alexander to the balcony to watch the pigeons perched on the railing. Amidst the family’s peace, Clara felt as if she were standing on the edge of a dark abyss.

The phone vibrated again. This time, it wasn’t just a text, but a photo attachment. With her breath caught in her throat, Clara touched the screen to open it.

The image showed a young girl. Her face was so innocent, with eyes that radiated a pure honesty untouched by the bitterness of the world. Her hair was dark blonde, very similar to Julian’s. The girl was smiling at the camera, wearing an oversized university sweater. She looked like the type of girl who would spend hours in the library, the type of girl who would be shattered by a single harsh word.

Below the photo, a new message appeared, every word feeling like a blade slicing through Clara’s heart.

\[Do you know, Mrs. Craig, that your husband killed this innocent woman simply because she loved him? Her name was Chloe, my sister. She was merely a victim of Raymond’s power-hungry arrogance. Be careful; it might be your turn next, once he gets what he wants from your womb.\]

The phone screen seemed to glow brighter, reflecting Clara’s now deathly pale face. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her wildly racing heart. Murder? Raymond killed this girl?

"No, that’s impossible," Clara whispered to herself. Her voice was barely audible, swallowed by the breeze drifting in through the window crack. "Raymond is harsh, he is arrogant, but he is not a murderer. Julian must just be trying to poison my mind."

However, the next message arrived as if Julian could read the doubt on her face.

\[I am sure you want to know the full story. The truth that Raymond has been hiding behind the mask of a loving husband. Meet me at the place I mentioned earlier. The Kensington Art Gallery. Come alone if you want to know who the man sleeping beside you every night really is.\]

Clara stared at Chloe’s photo once more. There was something in the girl’s gaze that made Clara feel deeply connected. The same purity, perhaps? The same sincerity Clara once possessed before this contract marriage changed her life? That curiosity now grew into a fire that could not be extinguished. She had to know. She could not live in the shadows of this deadly doubt.

Clara’s hand trembled over the screen, typing a reply with the last of her courage.

\[Fine, let’s meet, Mr. Julian. And I hope you have misjudged Raymond. I will be there in thirty minutes.\]

Clara immediately deleted the entire conversation from her phone. She stood up, smoothed out her cream-colored dress, and walked toward the balcony with steps she forced to look as natural as possible.

"Daddy," Clara called out softly.

Michael turned, his smile widening. "Look, Alex, Clara. He’s so happy watching these birds. Raymond was right; this child needs fresh air."

Clara approached and stroked Alexander’s head for a moment. "Daddy, Maria... I just remembered there’s something I need to buy. Personal items for Norah that I forgot to bring from home. I’m going out for a bit, maybe about an hour."

Michael frowned. "Going out alone? Wouldn't it be better to wait for Raymond to return or at least ask Joel to take you?"

"Oh, no need, Daddy. The shop is very close in the Kensington area; I just need to take a quick taxi. Besides, I want to enjoy some time alone without tight security. I feel a bit suffocated being constantly watched," Clara offered the excuse that seemed most plausible to her.

Maria, who had just come out of the kitchen, chimed in, "But Ma'am, Mr. Raymond gave instructions that—"

"I will take responsibility with Raymond later, Maria. Don't worry. Take care of Alexander and Norah, okay?" Clara cut her off firmly, using a tone of authority she rarely employed.

With a heart pounding wildly, Clara grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the suite. She felt like a thief in her own home. As the elevator took her down to the lobby, the image of Chloe’s face continued to haunt her. If Raymond was truly hiding something that massive, then who was the man she had loved all this time?

Elsewhere, in a cold and sterile boardroom, Raymond Craig was staring at the merger documents in front of him. The pen in his hand did not move. Usually, he was a man of iron concentration, unshakable by anything while working. But today, a restlessness crept under his skin, a bad premonition he couldn't explain.

He glanced at his watch. It was only eleven in the morning.

"Mr. Craig, this is the valuation report for the Vane Group’s assets in Germany. If you agree, we can sign the memorandum of understanding tomorrow morning," the voice of the legal assistant from the London office broke his reverie.

Raymond did not answer. Instead, he set his pen down and reached for his phone on the table. His mind was suddenly filled only with images of Clara. He wanted to hear his wife’s voice, just to ensure that everything was alright.

He dialed Clara’s number. The number you are trying to reach is currently inactive or out of range.

Raymond frowned. He tried once more. The result was the same.

Why is her phone off? Raymond thought. He knew Clara always ensured her phone was on if she was out of the office. That restlessness now turned into real anxiety. During this vacation in Europe, Raymond had intentionally loosened the security. He wanted Clara to feel free; he wanted to give his wife the privacy that had been stripped away by the strict Craig security protocols. He thought that in London, they would be safe.

"Joel, cancel the rest of this morning’s meetings," Raymond ordered suddenly.

Joel, who was standing in the corner of the room, startled. "Sir? We still have two meetings with the local board of directors."

"Reschedule everything for tomorrow. I have to get back to the hotel now," Raymond’s voice sounded sharp and indisputable.

Raymond immediately dialed Maria’s number. His heart beat faster as he waited for the call to be answered.

"Hello, Maria? Where is Clara?" Raymond asked immediately when Maria’s voice came through.

"Mr. Raymond? Mrs. Clara just left about an hour ago, Sir," Maria answered, sounding hesitant.

"Left? Left where? With whom?" Raymond’s voice rose, causing Joel, who was tidying up documents, to turn around reflexively.

"Ma'am said she wanted to buy things for Norah that were left behind, Sir. She went alone, taking a taxi in front of the hotel. She didn't allow the bodyguards to follow because she said the shop was very close in the Kensington area," Maria reported in a guilty tone.

Raymond felt his world stop spinning for a moment. "What? Clara went alone? Why didn't she tell me?"

"Ma'am said it would only be for a moment, Sir. She looked in a hurry," Maria added.

Raymond hung up without saying goodbye. He grabbed his jacket, his face now hardened with anger mixed with deep fear. His predatory instincts screamed that this was not just a simple shopping trip. Clara never acted impulsively like this, especially in a foreign city without telling him.

"Joel! Get the car ready now! We’re going back to the hotel!" Raymond shouted while walking with long strides toward the exit.

"Sir, what’s wrong?" Joel jogged to keep up with Raymond’s long strides.

"Clara is missing. She went out alone in London and her phone is off. If something happens to her because I loosened security, I will never forgive myself!" Raymond growled.

They rushed into the elevator. The atmosphere inside felt suffocating. Raymond kept trying to reach Clara’s number, but it remained futile. He punched the elevator wall with his fist, creating a loud thud that echoed.

"Joel, is the report I requested on Julian Vane ready?" Raymond asked in a very low voice, yet filled with deadly menace.

Joel immediately opened his tablet. "Yes, Sir. It just came in from our intelligence teams in New York and London. There is a part of your past that... is directly related to the Vane family."

Raymond snatched the tablet from Joel’s hand. His eyes moved quickly, scanning the lines of text on the screen.

"Chloe Vane?" Raymond whispered. His memory drifted back ten years. To a graduation party, to a girl he had rejected coldly in public. A girl he thought was just a minor nuisance to his academic career.

"That girl... she committed suicide two weeks after that incident, Sir," Joel said quietly. "Julian Vane is her older brother. He changed his identity and built the Vane Group for one purpose over these ten years. Revenge against you."

Raymond felt an extraordinary chill run down his spine. Every piece of the puzzle that had been confusing him now fell into place perfectly. The "accidental" meeting at Southbank, the overly profitable business expansion, and Julian’s unnatural interest in Clara.

"That bastard," Raymond hissed. "He’s targeting Clara. He wants to take Clara from me in exchange for his sister."

The elevator doors opened and Raymond ran toward the lobby of his office building. A luxury black SUV was already waiting in front. Raymond got into the back seat, followed by Joel.

"Joel, contact the local taxi operator. Track the taxi that picked up Clara from The Savoy an hour ago. Use Miller’s access if necessary; I don't care about the legality of it now!"

"Yes, Sir!" Joel began to get busy with his phone and tablet.

Raymond then called Evan.

"Evan, use all your capabilities to track my wife’s phone and the history of incoming messages. I am sure this is all the work of that fucking Julian!"

Raymond ended the call and rubbed his face harshly. He remembered the look on Clara’s face during breakfast that morning, how she had seemed restless.

Damn it, why did I overlook that important detail? Clara... I beg you, just trust me. In this world, you are the only one I love. I have never, ever had any intention of hurting you.

Raymond leaned his head back, closing his eyes with his jaw still clenched. He remembered Julian’s sapphire gaze from last night. The gaze of a man who no longer carried any burden because he felt he was at the end of his game.

Clara, please don't do anything stupid, Raymond thought, full of desperation. If that bastard touches you even a hair, I swear I will level his entire family until nothing is left.

The luxury SUV sped through the London traffic with its siren blaring, ignoring red lights and traffic rules. Every passing second felt like a year to Raymond. He kept staring at his tablet screen, looking at the photo of Chloe Vane, which now looked terrifying to him. Not because the girl was evil, but because her death had created a monster named Julian Vane who was now threatening his world.