Chapter 5 - THE MAN FROM THE PARKING LOT
Jonathan Reed looked nothing like the criminal I had imagined.
He was in his late fifties, dressed in a dark suit, with silver hair and a calm expression.
That somehow made him more frightening.
He walked toward us.
Mark stepped between us.
“Don't.”
Jonathan smiled.
“You're still protecting her?”
Mark said nothing.
Jonathan looked at me.
“Emily Bennett.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“You know my name.”
“I've known it for years.”
“How?”
He glanced at Mark.
“Because your husband has been lying to you for a very long time.”
Mark looked furious.
“Leave her alone.”
Jonathan laughed softly.
“Now you care?”
I looked at Mark.
“What is he talking about?”
Jonathan answered.
“Your husband didn't marry you for love.”
Mark's face went pale.
I stared at him.
“Mark?”
“Don't listen to him.”
Jonathan continued.
“Your grandfather knew exactly what Mark was doing.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
Jonathan took a folder from his jacket.
“He suspected your husband was trying to gain control of the company.”
Mark lunged toward him.
Jonathan stepped back.
“Careful.”
Two men appeared from the SUV.
David came rushing outside.
“Mr. Reed, you need to leave.”
Jonathan smiled.
“Not until she knows the truth.”
He handed me the folder.
Inside was a photograph.
My grandfather.
Mark.
And another woman.
Diane.
They were standing outside my grandfather's office.
The date was twelve years before.
Before Mark and I married.
Before I even met him.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence.
He thinks the granddaughter is the key.
My hands began shaking.
“What does this mean?”
Jonathan looked at Mark.
“Tell her.”
Mark closed his eyes.
“My mother approached your grandfather.”
“Why?”
“She wanted money.”
“That isn't the whole truth,” Jonathan said.
Mark glared at him.
Jonathan continued.
“She wanted control.”
I looked at Mark.
“And you?”
Mark said nothing.
“Did you marry me to get my family's company?”
His silence answered.
I stepped backward.
The pain wasn't sudden.
It was worse.
It was the slow realization that twelve years of memories might have been built on a lie.
Emma's first birthday.
Our wedding.
The hospital when Lily was born.
Every anniversary.
Every time Mark told me he loved me.
Was any of it real?
“Did you ever love me?”
Mark finally looked at me.
“Yes.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You don't get to say that now.”
“I did love you.”
“Then why?”
“Because by the time I realized what Mom had planned, it was too late.”
Jonathan interrupted.
“No.”
Mark looked at him.
“You chose.”
Jonathan turned toward me.
“Mark knew your grandfather had placed the company in trust.”
I stared at my husband.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you still married me.”
“I was supposed to convince you to transfer the shares.”
My chest tightened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Mark's voice broke.
“Because I fell in love with you.”
I wanted to believe him.
I hated that part of me still wanted to.
Then Jonathan said:
“He's lying again.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because there is one more document.”
He handed it to me.
A life insurance policy.
My name was the beneficiary.
The policy had been purchased one month before our wedding.
The insured person?
Me.
I looked at Mark.
His face turned white.
“Emily, I didn't do that.”
“Who did?”
He didn't answer.
Jonathan did.
“Diane.”
I felt sick.
May you like
And suddenly the cake wasn't the beginning.
It was the moment the truth finally became impossible to ignore.
