Chapter 7: My Husband Was Supposed to Marry My Sister
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what Emily had said.
Marcus.
My husband.
The man I'd married eight years ago.
He had once been engaged to my younger sister?
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Emily shook her head.
"I wish it were.""
I looked at Daniel. He seemed just as stunned.
"Emily," I said, "start talking. Now.""
She stepped inside the workshop and closed the door behind her.
Her eyes moved toward the blue box.
"Mom found out about us before your wedding.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"About you and Marcus?""
Emily nodded.
"We were together for almost two years. He told me he loved me. He promised we'd get married.""
I gripped the edge of the workbench.
"Then why did he marry me?""
Emily looked down.
"Because Mom discovered something about him.""
"What?""
"His business wasn't legitimate. He was using other people's identities to open accounts and move money. Mom found documents proving it.""
Daniel opened his notebook.
"Was that connected to Mitchell Family Holdings?""
Emily nodded.
"Marcus created that company using Mom's information. He convinced her to invest money, claiming it was for a real estate project. When she discovered the truth, she threatened to report him.""
I stared at the documents.
My mother had been betrayed by the man who eventually became my husband.
"And you knew?""
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"I was in love with him. I didn't believe Mom.""
"Even after she showed you the evidence?""
"Marcus told me she was trying to control my life. He said she was jealous because I was leaving home.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Mom wasn't trying to control you. She was trying to protect you.""
"I know that now.""
"No, Emily. You don't get to say that as if it fixes anything.""
She flinched.
Daniel interrupted.
"Let's focus on the night your mother died. What happened?""
Emily wiped her cheeks.
"Marcus called me that afternoon. He said Mom wanted to meet us at the house. When I arrived, they were arguing.""
"About what?""
"The company. The money. The documents.""
She looked at the blue box.
"Mom told Marcus she had copies of everything. She said she'd already contacted a lawyer.""
I opened the notebook.
There were several entries dated the week before my mother's death.
One read:
*If anything happens to me, Lauren must receive the original trust documents. Do not allow Marcus access.*
I showed it to Emily.
She closed her eyes.
"That was the night.""
"What happened next?""
Emily took a shaky breath.
"Marcus grabbed Mom's arm. She fell against the kitchen counter. I thought she was hurt, but she stood up. She told him to leave.""
"And?""
"He refused.""
Emily began crying harder.
"He told her she had no idea who she was dealing with. Then he said something about the money. Mom told him he'd never get it.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What happened to her?""
"She collapsed.""
"From the stroke?""
Emily nodded slowly.
"That's what Marcus told everyone.""
I stared at her.
"Did you call an ambulance?""
"Marcus did.""
"Then what?""
"He told me to say Mom had been confused all afternoon. He said she had forgotten where she was and had been acting strangely.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Did she have those symptoms?""
Emily shook her head.
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"Why did you lie?""
Emily looked at me.
"Because Marcus told me if I didn't cooperate, he'd tell the police I had stolen money from Mom's account.""
"Did you?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I transferred money to him. I thought it was temporary. I thought we'd build a life together.""
I felt something break inside me.
My sister had helped the man who betrayed our mother.
Then she had watched him marry me.
"Why didn't you tell me before my wedding?""
Emily began sobbing.
"Because by then, he was already telling everyone we were together. He said he'd changed. He said he loved you.""
I shook my head.
"He married me to get access to Mom's estate.""
Emily didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Daniel picked up the old photograph.
"There's something I don't understand. If Marcus and Emily were together, why did he choose Lauren?""
Emily looked at the photograph.
"Because Mom changed her will.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She removed me as the primary beneficiary. Everything went to you.""
I stared at the box.
The house.
The trust.
The hidden bank account.
The documents.
My mother had left everything to me because she'd discovered what Marcus was doing.
And he'd married me to get it back.
A sudden noise came from outside.
Headlights swept across the workshop window.
Daniel moved toward the door.
"Someone's here.""
Emily grabbed my arm.
"Lauren, listen to me. You need to leave.""
"Why?""
"Because Marcus knows I came here.""
Daniel looked at her.
"How?""
Emily's face went pale.
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen and began shaking.
A message appeared.
*Marcus: You have five minutes to get Lauren away from that box. If she reads the last document, we're all finished.*
I looked at Emily.
"What last document?""
She pointed toward the bottom of the blue box.
"There is one more envelope.""
I reached inside.
My fingers touched a thick sealed packet.
May you like
And on the front, in my mother's handwriting, were six words:
*The truth about Lauren's real father.*
