Chapter 6 - Serena had asked the question she pretended not to care about
By the fourth month, Claire could no longer hide the pregnancy under loose uniforms.
Serena called her into the estate office.
Not angrily.
Almost casually.
“How far along are you?”
Claire kept folding linens.
“Why?”
“I’m making conversation.”
“No, you’re not.”
Serena closed the door.
“Is it Ethan’s?”
Claire looked at her.
For the first time since the coffee-shop meeting months earlier, Serena’s control slipped visibly.
Claire answered:
“You told me he chose you.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“You said I’m nothing to him.”
“Claire.”
“Then why are you scared?”
Serena’s mouth tightened.
Claire never answered the paternity question.
Partly because she genuinely did not have certainty she wanted to state as fact. She and Ethan had been intimate during the conception window, but Claire had briefly dated someone else during the early stage of reconnecting with Ethan, before either of them agreed they were exclusive. That relationship had ended before Claire knew she was pregnant.
The possible fatherhood needed medical certainty.
Claire wanted that before she changed anyone’s life.
Serena did not know about the other man.
She assumed the baby was Ethan’s.
That assumption terrified her.
From that day forward, Claire’s work assignments became harsher.
Serena stopped allowing her anywhere near the family side of the estate when Ethan might visit.
If Ethan unexpectedly scheduled a Newport stay, Claire was sent to an off-site laundry facility or given days off.
Claire began noticing the pattern.
The biggest confirmation came when another housekeeper casually said:
“Mrs. Bennett always changes the roster when her husband comes.”
Claire asked:
“How often has he been here?”
The woman shrugged.
“Three times this month.”
Claire felt the room tilt.
Serena had told her Ethan rarely visited Newport anymore.
He had been in the same estate repeatedly.
Only separated from Claire by scheduling.
That night Claire sat in the employee apartment and finally understood.
Ethan had not simply failed to find her.
Someone had been arranging for them not to cross paths.
May you like
And only one person had motive, access, and knowledge enough to do it.
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