Chapter 3 - Uncovering The Truth About Clara And Her Deceptive Past
The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting harsh stripes of light across the bedroom floor where I had spent the entire night awake.
Ethan had slept on the hardwood floor near the door, a silent guardian barred from his own bed.
I picked up his phone again, scrolling past the emotional texts to find the financial and professional trail Clara had left behind.
She wasn't just a deranged coworker; she was a certified financial analyst who had systematically woven herself into our social circle.
She had attended our dinner parties, brought handmade cupcakes for Maisie’s preschool graduation, and volunteered at our local charity events.
Every single interaction had been part of a calculated, patient campaign to replace me.
My stomach churned as I realized how many times I had defended her when Ethan looked uncomfortable around her.
“She’s just lonely, Ethan, be nice to her,” I remembered telling him months ago during a neighborhood barbecue.
May you like
Now, that memory tasted like poison on my tongue.
I slid the phone into my robe pocket and walked quietly down the hall toward Maisie’s room.
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