Chapter 4: The Wife Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"She's still my wife.""
Daniel's words hung over the dining table.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Twenty-two relatives sat frozen around us. Someone's wineglass slipped from their fingers and shattered against the floor.
I looked at the photograph again.
Daniel's arm around Elizabeth.
The woman he had supposedly buried seven years earlier.
The woman whose memory I had spent six years respecting.
"Explain," I whispered.
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
"Sarah, this is complicated.""
I laughed once.
It sounded nothing like me.
"Complicated? You told me your wife died. You married me.
You stole eighty-five thousand dollars from my savings. And now you're telling me she's alive?""
"Keep your voice down.""
"WHY?""
Vanessa moved toward him.
"Daniel, maybe we should go somewhere private.""
I turned toward her.
"Sit down.""
She stopped.
For once, Vanessa looked uncertain.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Sarah, Elizabeth and I had an arrangement. Our marriage was over emotionally years before we separated. We were handling some legal matters.""
"You said she died.""
"I know what I said.""
"You told me you attended her funeral.""
He lowered his eyes.
"I didn't want to lose you.""
I stared at him.
"Did you ever actually get divorced?""
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Robert pulled out a chair and sat heavily.
"I asked him that same question yesterday.""
Daniel turned toward his father.
"Stay out of this.""
Robert's voice trembled.
"I signed documents because you told me Sarah had approved the transaction. I trusted you. You used my signature and her name to move money that didn't belong to you.""
"I was going to pay it back!""
"With what?"" Robert demanded.
"You've been telling me your business is profitable for two years. I know now that you're drowning in debt.""
The revelation hit me almost as hard as Elizabeth's photograph.
"What debt?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Sarah, please.""
"How much?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"About two hundred thousand.""
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
"That's not all his fault!""
I turned toward her.
"Nobody asked you.""
She crossed her arms.
"Elizabeth was going to help him. That's why the house was necessary.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Help him how?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said something that made my stomach tighten.
"She has money. A lot of it. Daniel thought they could start over once everything was settled.""
I stared at my husband.
"So you stole my savings to buy a house for your first wife, hoping she'd help you escape your debts?""
"That's not what happened.""
"Then what happened?""
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Robert slowly removed his glasses.
"Daniel, tell her about the other account.""
My husband went completely still.
"What account?"" I asked.
Robert looked at me.
"Three months ago, Daniel asked me to help him open a business account. He said it was for a property development project. I refused because the paperwork didn't make sense.""
Daniel snapped.
"Dad!""
Robert continued.
"I later discovered that Elizabeth's name was connected to the company. And so was yours, Sarah.""
I frowned.
"My name?""
He nodded.
"Your name appeared as a financial guarantor.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"I never guaranteed anything.""
"I know," Robert replied.
"That's why I kept investigating.""
Daniel reached for the documents.
Robert pulled them away.
"Don't touch those.""
The waiter quietly approached and asked whether anyone needed assistance.
Robert requested the manager.
Daniel looked furious.
"You're calling the police over a family disagreement?""
Robert stared at him.
"Forgery and theft aren't family disagreements.""
Vanessa began gathering her purse.
"We're leaving.""
But Robert raised one hand.
"Nobody is leaving until Sarah understands what happened.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did Elizabeth know you were using my money?""
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he said, "She knew about the house.""
"That's not what I asked.""
His silence told me everything.
I picked up my purse.
"I want my money back.""
"Sarah, we can work this out.""
"No. You can explain it to the authorities.""
He grabbed my wrist.
"Don't be stupid.""
I looked down at his fingers.
"Let go.""
He tightened his grip.
Robert stood so quickly his chair scraped across the floor.
"Daniel! Take your hand off her!""
My husband released me.
I stepped away and pulled out my phone.
But before I could call anyone, it vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
*Sarah, this is Elizabeth. Daniel told me you were aware of everything. We need to talk before he destroys both of us.*
May you like
A second message arrived immediately.
*And whatever he told you about our marriage, there's something he hasn't told either of us.*
