Chapter 6 - The Woman He Thought He Married
Adrian didn't sleep.
At three in the morning, he sat in his study with Elise's letter spread across the desk and a photograph of Corinne on his phone.
It was taken during their honeymoon in Italy.
She was laughing at something he'd said, her chestnut hair tangled by the wind, her hand resting on his shoulder.
He remembered taking that photograph.
He remembered thinking that happiness had finally found its way back into his life.
Now he wondered whether she'd been laughing at him.
A quiet knock interrupted his thoughts.
Celia entered carrying coffee.
“You look terrible.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“There's cream in it. Drink.”
She set the cup beside him.
Adrian rubbed his eyes.
“Was Elise investigating Nathan Bell?”
“I don't know.”
“Did she ever mention Corinne?”
“Adrian, Elise died before you met Corinne.”
“I know that.”
“Then what are you really asking?”
He looked at the photograph.
“Whether my marriage was an accident.”
Celia sat opposite him.
“Do you remember how you met her?”
“At a charity fundraiser.”
“Who invited you?”
“Graham.”
“And Corinne?”
“She was working with the event organizers.”
“Was she?”
Adrian looked up.
Celia raised an eyebrow.
“I'm asking.”
He remembered Corinne spilling champagne near him.
She'd laughed, apologized, and made a joke about his expensive shoes.
He'd found her funny.
Refreshingly uninterested in his wealth.
At least, that was what she'd seemed to be.
“She didn't know who I was,” he said.
Celia didn't respond.
“Mom.”
“Sweetheart, your photograph has been on the company's website for fifteen years.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You could've said that eight months ago.”
“I did.”
“No. You said she was too young.”
“I said many things. You stopped listening after the second one.”
He turned off the phone.
There was nothing useful to say.
By morning, police investigators had interviewed the yacht crew and begun arranging formal interviews with the guests. Corinne had retained an attorney.
She called Adrian eleven times.
He didn't answer.
At nine, she appeared at the front gate of the house.
Security informed him that she wanted to collect some belongings.
Adrian agreed to meet her outside, with a security employee nearby.
Corinne stepped out of her car wearing sunglasses, white trousers, and a pale blue blouse.
She looked beautiful.
That fact suddenly made him angry.
“Where's Junie?” she asked.
“Inside.”
“I want to see her.”
“No.”
Her lips parted.
“Adrian, please.”
“You're not coming near my daughter.”
Corinne removed her sunglasses.
Her eyes were swollen.
“Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?”
Adrian stared at her.
“To you?”
“People are calling me a monster.”
“Did you push her?”
She looked away.
He stepped closer.
“Corinne. Look at me.”
“I've told you what happened.”
“Then tell me again.”
“She was too close to the edge. I tried to pull her back, and she panicked.”
“Why did you stand away from her afterward?”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“Mara saw you.”
“I froze.”
“Why did you hide your phone?”
Corinne's breathing became shallow.
“Who told you that?”
“Answer the question.”
“I didn't hide anything.”
“It's with the police.”
She stared at him.
Then she whispered, “You really think I wanted to hurt her.”
Adrian looked at the woman he'd married.
“I think my daughter is afraid of you.”
“She's a child.”
“She knows what happened to her.”
“Children misunderstand things.”
“Did she misunderstand hanging off the side of my yacht?”
Corinne flinched.
He lowered his voice.
“You had one job while I was inside. One. Keep her safe.”
Corinne's eyes filled.
“You have no idea what it's like living in that house.”
Adrian blinked.
“What?”
“Every room has pictures of Elise. Every holiday becomes a story about Elise. Every time I do something for Junie, somebody tells me her mother did it differently.”
“She's five. She misses her mother.”
“And I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life competing with a dead woman?”
Adrian stared.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said quietly, “You weren't competing.”
Corinne looked at him.
“You were supposed to help me love her.”
Her expression crumpled.
But Adrian didn't move toward her.
Instead, he took a small envelope from his pocket.
Inside was a copy of their prenuptial agreement.
“My attorney will contact yours about living arrangements. You'll receive access to your personal belongings through an agreed process. You won't enter the house without my consent.”
Corinne laughed bitterly.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The money.”
“This isn't about money.”
“It always is with your family.”
Adrian studied her.
“Then tell me about Harborstone.”
Corinne froze.
He saw it.
The tiny movement of her shoulders.
The way her eyes flicked toward the car.
She recovered quickly.
“I don't know what that is.”
“Funny. Your brother seems to.”
Corinne's face drained.
Adrian stepped back.
“Get in your car.”
“Adrian—”
“Please.”
She stood there for another moment.
Then she put on her sunglasses.
Before leaving, she said something he would remember for a long time.
“You think Junie's the only person who got hurt yesterday?”
Adrian watched her drive away.
He didn't understand the question.
Not yet.
Twenty minutes later, Helen called with the result of an initial corporate records search.
May you like
Corinne had held a consulting position with a Harborstone-affiliated company six months before her supposedly accidental meeting with Adrian.
And the man who had approved her employment paperwork was Graham Vale.
