Chapter 4 - The Woman Camille Had Been Replacing for Years
Camille arrived at Evelyn’s office wearing dark glasses and no jewelry.
She looked smaller without Adrian beside her.
Not innocent.
Just less protected.
I attended by video.
My doctors still refused to release me.
Camille sat across from Evelyn with her attorney.
“I did not know Olivia owned the house,” she began.
I almost laughed.
Of all the crimes surrounding us, that was her opening concern.
“I thought Adrian bought it before the marriage.”
Evelyn said nothing.
Camille continued.
“He told me Olivia was addicted to prescription medication.”
My hand tightened over the blanket.
“He said the pregnancy was uncertain.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Camille looked at the screen.
“He said there had been complications and you might not carry to term.”
The cruelty took a moment to register.
While I attended prenatal appointments alone, Adrian told his mistress my daughter might die.
Not from fear.
To keep Camille patient.
“He said the marriage had been over for years,” she continued. “That you refused divorce because you wanted control of the company.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“And the payments to Laurent Strategy Group?”
Camille swallowed.
“Adrian created the company.”
“You were listed as owner.”
“He said it was for tax efficiency.”
“You received five million dollars.”
“Most of it moved back out.”
“To where?”
She gave them account numbers.
The money funded Adrian’s private legal team, political donations, and a property in the Bahamas.
Then she revealed the other woman.
Her name was Rebecca Sloan.
She had lived with Adrian before me.
Not married.
Engaged.
Rebecca invested in his first software prototype.
Then she disappeared from his company history.
Adrian told everyone she left after stealing source code.
The truth was different.
Rebecca became pregnant.
Adrian pressured her to sign away company rights in exchange for medical support.
She refused.
Weeks later, she was arrested for corporate theft based on evidence planted on her laptop.
She accepted a plea to avoid prison.
Lost her career.
Lost custody temporarily during the case.
Her baby was born prematurely and died after three days.
Camille’s voice cracked.
“Adrian kept her file.”
“Why?” Evelyn asked.
“He called it a template.”
The room went silent.
A template.
Rebecca had been the first woman he erased.
I was the improved version of the same plan.
Isolation.
Financial dependence.
Claims of instability.
Forged documents.
Pregnancy used as leverage.
Camille was not his new future.
She was the next person positioned to validate his story.
Evelyn asked why Camille was cooperating.
“Because he called me from the airport yesterday.”
“Where was he going?”
“He wanted me to meet him in Nassau.”
“And?”
“He said I needed to transfer the remaining money first.”
She placed her phone on the table.
The recording played.
Adrian’s voice:
Olivia is weak. Her father will turn this into a war. We leave before the board locks everything.
Camille:
What about the baby?
Adrian:
If the child survives, I’ll deal with custody later.
My vision blurred.
If the child survives.
He spoke about our daughter as a legal obstacle.
Camille continued:
And me?
Adrian laughed.
You wanted this life. Prove it.
She did not meet my eyes.
“I realized I was not chosen. I was useful.”
I could have said something cruel.
Part of me wanted to.
Instead, I asked:
“Did you know he planned to serve me papers that night?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know I was pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Did you drink from my mother’s glasses on purpose?”
Her mouth tightened.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to feel replaced.”
The honesty hurt.
It also mattered.
“I did,” I said.
Camille lowered her head.
“I’m sorry.”
I did not forgive her.
Not then.
Maybe not ever.
But forgiveness was not required for cooperation.
She gave investigators the hidden ledger.
Rebecca was located in Colorado.
She had rebuilt her life under her maiden name.
When Evelyn contacted her, she refused at first.
Then she heard my name.
And the word pregnant.
She agreed to testify.
The case against Adrian was no longer a divorce.
It was a pattern.
A system.
And the most dangerous piece remained the prenuptial agreement.
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Adrian believed he destroyed the original.
He did not know my mother had kept a certified copy.
