Chapter 12 - THE LOVE AFFAIR THAT TURNED DEADLY
Samantha had been secretly dating Derek Walsh.
The revelation made me feel physically sick.
I remembered Samantha mentioning a boyfriend.
A man with money.
A man who promised to help her career.
But she'd never told me his name.
Now I understood why.
Derek had been involved with Marcus Vale's business.
He had helped fund the training program.
And he'd hidden his relationship with Samantha from everyone.
Daniel sat across from me.
“My sister wanted to break up with him.”
I looked up.
“Why?”
“She discovered he was helping Marcus distribute unauthorized substances to fighters.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did she confront him?”
Daniel nodded.
“She threatened to report everything.”
I stared at the photograph.
Derek's arm rested around Samantha's shoulders.
She was smiling.
She had trusted him.
And he'd betrayed her.
“Did he hurt her?” I whispered.
Daniel's expression darkened.
“I believe he helped cover up what happened. The authorities are investigating whether he did more.”
Detective Mitchell entered the room.
“We've recovered additional communications between Derek and Marcus.”
He placed several documents on the table.
Emails.
Text messages.
Financial records.
One message stood out.
Sent two days before Samantha died.
From Derek to Marcus.
She knows too much. We need to stop her.
My hands began shaking.
Ryan read the message.
His face went pale.
“My brother…”
He couldn't finish.
I reached for his hand.
“I know.”
For the first time, Ryan looked at me with something beyond anger.
Shame.
As though Derek's actions somehow belonged to him too.
I squeezed his hand.
“You didn't do this.”
He nodded.
But tears filled his eyes.
Then Detective Mitchell continued.
“There is another development.”
We all looked up.
“Derek Walsh has been detained.”
My breath caught.
“Did he confess?”
“Not entirely. But he admitted helping Marcus conceal information after Samantha's death.”
I closed my eyes.
The truth was finally emerging.
One piece at a time.
Then Mitchell opened another file.
“We also recovered communication between Derek and Diane Walsh.”
Ryan looked up.
“What kind of communication?”
Mitchell hesitated.
“Messages discussing Evelyn's identity shortly after your engagement.”
My stomach dropped.
“They knew who I was?”
“Yes.”
I stared at Ryan.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
For three years, Derek and Diane had mocked my quiet personality.
Called me helpless.
Pretended they knew nothing about my fighting career.
But they'd known the entire time.
Then Mitchell read one of Diane's messages aloud.
Keep her embarrassed. Keep her isolated. If she ever starts fighting again, she'll attract attention.
My hands went cold.
The cruelty hadn't been random.
It had been deliberate.
May you like
Then Mitchell read the final sentence.
“Make sure Ryan never learns why we arranged his first meeting with Evelyn.”
