Chapter 6: The Secret Behind the Red Dress
For several seconds, Marcus stared at his phone.
Nobody spoke.
The rain tapped against the study windows.
Then he slowly turned toward me.
"What previous employer?""
I laughed.
It sounded weak, even to my own ears.
"Daniel is trying to manipulate you.""
Marcus didn't blink.
"Answer the question.""
"I worked for several people before I met you. I don't remember every detail.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Your previous employer was a woman named Patricia Lowell.""
I froze.
Margaret noticed.
"Do you remember her now?""
I looked at her.
"That was years ago.""
"She owned a private investment firm in Boston.""
Marcus frowned.
"What's this about?""
Margaret opened her folder again.
"Patricia hired Vanessa as her executive assistant after Vanessa left my sister's foundation. Less than a year later, Patricia suffered a serious financial collapse.""
I rolled my eyes.
"That had nothing to do with me.""
"Her company lost almost two million dollars.""
"Businesses fail.""
"Her attorney believed someone inside the company had falsified payment records.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Was there an investigation?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes. But before it could be completed, the company was sold, the records disappeared, and Patricia withdrew her complaint.""
Ethan looked confused.
"Why would she withdraw it?""
Margaret removed a newspaper clipping.
"Because she was threatened.""
I stared at the clipping.
It was an old article about Patricia Lowell.
The headline read:
*BOSTON INVESTOR WITHDRAWS FRAUD CLAIM AFTER MYSTERIOUS HOME INCIDENT.*
Marcus read the article.
"What happened to her?""
"She was involved in a car accident shortly after filing the complaint. She survived, but suffered a serious spinal injury. She later moved away.""
Ethan looked at me.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
I slammed my hand against the desk.
"Enough!""
Everyone went silent.
I pointed at Margaret.
"You've been waiting years to destroy my life. You never accepted that Marcus moved on. You're using old business disputes to make me look like some kind of criminal.""
Margaret remained calm.
"My sister is dead. Patricia Lowell nearly died. Your husband's company is missing money. And you staged an assault against his son tonight.""
I felt my face burning.
"That's not evidence of anything!""
"No," Margaret replied.
"But it's a pattern.""
Marcus walked toward the window.
He looked out at the dark garden.
When he spoke, his voice was tired.
"I want you to tell me everything.""
I crossed my arms.
"I've told you everything.""
"No, you haven't.""
He turned.
"Did you know my first wife before we met?""
I hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Did you know about her trust?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know about the foundation investigation?""
I looked away.
"Yes.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Did you marry me because you wanted access to my company and Ethan's inheritance?""
I stared at him.
The question was so direct that I almost laughed.
"Do you honestly believe I would marry a man for his money?""
Marcus looked around the room.
At the expensive furniture.
The paintings.
The marble fireplace.
The house I had spent eighteen months calling mine.
Then he looked at me.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
That hurt.
But it also made me angry.
"You were lonely, Marcus. You wanted someone who would make you feel young again. I gave you that.""
He shook his head.
"Did you ever love me?""
I looked at him.
For a moment, I considered lying.
Then I realized there was no point.
"Love isn't always enough.""
His expression changed.
It was a small movement, but I saw it.
He understood.
I had never loved him the way he had loved his first wife.
I had loved what he could provide.
The security.
The wealth.
The influence.
The access.
Marcus turned away.
"Go pack your things.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You can't throw me out without speaking to your attorney.""
"I'm not asking you to leave the property permanently tonight. I'm telling you to stay away from me while this is investigated.""
I looked toward Ethan.
He was standing beside Margaret.
Watching.
Waiting.
I hated him more than ever.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"" I asked.
Ethan shook his head.
"No.""
"Don't lie.""
"I'm not enjoying seeing my father discover that the woman he trusted has been lying to him.""
I stepped toward him.
"Your father will regret choosing you.""
Marcus moved between us.
"Don't come near him.""
I stared at Marcus.
"You hit your own son for me tonight.""
He looked down.
"I know.""
"You believed me.""
"I know.""
"And now you're going to pretend you're the victim?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"No. I'm going to take responsibility for what I did.""
He turned toward Ethan.
"I'm sorry I hit you.""
Ethan looked at him.
His eyes were wet.
"I needed you to believe me.""
Marcus nodded.
"I should have.""
That was the moment I realized I had lost him.
Not when he watched the recording.
Not when Margaret revealed the documents.
Not even when Daniel called.
It was when Marcus apologized to his son.
The distance I had spent eighteen months creating had disappeared in a single sentence.
I picked up my handbag.
"Fine. I'll leave.""
Marcus nodded.
"Good.""
I walked toward the door.
Then I stopped.
"One question.""
He looked at me.
"What?""
"Have you ever wondered why your first wife was investigating Daniel instead of going to the police?""
Marcus frowned.
"Because she was gathering evidence.""
I smiled faintly.
"No. Because she was afraid of what would happen if she did.""
Margaret stood.
"What are you implying?""
I looked at her.
"Maybe you should ask your nephew.""
Ethan stiffened.
"What does that mean?""
I shrugged.
"Your mother didn't trust anyone. Not Daniel. Not me. Not even your father.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Stop trying to confuse everyone.""
I walked out before he could say anything else.
Upstairs, I entered the master bedroom and locked the door.
My hands shook as I opened the wardrobe.
I pulled out a suitcase and began throwing clothes inside.
I wasn't leaving without a fight.
There were documents in the house Marcus hadn't found.
Documents that could destroy him as easily as they could destroy me.
I reached behind a row of dresses and pulled out a small leather box.
Inside were two passports, several bank cards, a spare phone, and a silver key.
I had prepared for this possibility months ago.
Then my regular phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*DANIEL: We have a problem. Marcus knows about the old photograph.*
I typed back.
*VANESSA: I know. Get the money ready. I'm leaving tonight.*
His reply came immediately.
*DANIEL: You don't understand. Someone else has the original recording.*
I stopped typing.
*VANESSA: What recording?*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, a message arrived.
*DANIEL: The recording from the night Patricia's car went off the road.*
My fingers went numb.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
That recording wasn't supposed to exist.
Patricia had never found it.
Daniel had promised me he destroyed everything.
I typed furiously.
*VANESSA: Who has it?*
The reply came seconds later.
*DANIEL: Ethan.*
I stared at the screen.
Then I heard footsteps outside the bedroom.
A knock followed.
"Vanessa?"" Marcus called.
I quickly hid the phone.
"What?""
"Open the door.""
"I'm changing.""
"Open it.""
I walked toward the door, trying to steady my breathing.
When I opened it, Marcus stood there with Margaret and Ethan.
But Ethan was holding something.
A small silver voice recorder.
I recognized it immediately.
My mouth went dry.
Ethan looked directly at me.
"This belonged to my mother.""
I forced a smile.
"That's lovely. Why are you showing it to me?""
He pressed a button.
A woman's voice emerged from the tiny speaker.
His mother's voice.
"Daniel, I know about the transfers. I know about Vanessa. If you think I'm going to let you hurt my family, you're mistaken.""
Then a man's voice answered.
Daniel.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
There was a pause.
Then my own voice came through.
"She's not going to make it to the meeting.""
Marcus went completely still.
Ethan's fingers tightened around the recorder.
Margaret covered her mouth.
And I stood frozen in the doorway.
The recording continued.
Daniel asked:
"Are you sure?""
My recorded voice answered:
"By tomorrow morning, everyone will believe it was an accident.""
Marcus took one step toward me.
His face had lost all color.
"Vanessa...""
I couldn't move.
Ethan looked at his father.
Then he pressed another button.
A final recording began.
This time, it wasn't Daniel or me speaking.
It was a voice Marcus hadn't heard in seven years.
His first wife's voice.
"Marcus, if you're listening to this, please remember one thing. The person who caused all of this isn't working alone.""
A brief pause followed.
Then she whispered:
"Someone inside our family helped her.""
Marcus slowly turned toward Margaret.
May you like
And Margaret's face suddenly went white.
*To be continued...*
