Chapter 7 - THE DINNER PARTY
Marcus invited everyone to dinner.
His mother.
Tessa.
Several business associates.
And me.
He believed I would come because he had sent me a message saying he wanted to “repair our marriage.”
I accepted.
Evelyn warned me not to go alone.
I didn't.
But I didn't tell Marcus that.
When I entered the dining room, he smiled.
“You look beautiful.”
I looked at him.
“You look nervous.”
He laughed.
“I'm trying to save our marriage.”
Tessa poured wine.
“We're family.”
I almost smiled.
“Are we?”
Silence.
Marcus stepped closer.
“I know you've been talking to Evelyn.”
“So?”
“You're making this worse.”
“For whom?”
His jaw tightened.
Then he lowered his voice.
“You don't understand what will happen if you continue.”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“I understand perfectly.”
He froze.
I walked to the fireplace.
The painting was hanging above it.
The same painting my mother had left behind.
Marcus followed my eyes.
For half a second, panic flashed across his face.
I saw it.
He knew.
I turned around.
“Did you ever love me?”
He looked offended.
“Of course.”
“Then why did you need my money?”
“I didn't.”
“Why did you forge my signature?”
Silence.
“Why did you arrange a medical evaluation?”
Nothing.
“Why did you tell people I was unstable?”
Marcus finally whispered:
“Because you were becoming a problem.”
Tessa stood.
“You need to stop this.”
I looked at her.
“You're right.”
Then I pressed a button on my phone.
The room filled with audio.
Marcus's own voice.
She was never supposed to know.
Then Tessa's.
Then we have to make sure she never leaves this house.
The room went silent.
Marcus turned white.
Tessa dropped her glass.
“You recorded us?”
“No.”
I smiled.
“My attorney did.”
The front door opened.
Two investigators entered.
Behind them stood a federal financial crimes officer.
Marcus stared.
“You can't do this.”
The officer held up a warrant.
“We can.”
Tessa began crying.
“I didn't do anything.”
I looked at her.
“You didn't?”
She stared at me.
“You were my sister-in-law.”
Her face collapsed.
“I loved you.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You loved what you thought I would inherit.”
Marcus suddenly lunged toward the fireplace.
Toward the painting.
The investigators stopped him.
He shouted:
“You don't understand! If that evidence comes out, everyone goes down!”
I looked at Evelyn.
She nodded.
Then I understood.
May you like
The secret wasn't just about Marcus.
It went much higher.
