Chapter 7: The Secret Emily Buried
I read the sentence over and over.
Ask her what happened the night your first wife died.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
My first wife.
A woman I had spent years trying to forget.
A woman whose death had always been called an accident.
A woman named Claire.
Detective Collins watched my face carefully.
“Daniel.””
I folded the paper.
“My first wife died eight years ago.””
“Was Michael involved?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because the truth was something I had buried so deeply that even I hated opening that door.
“No.””
But my voice sounded uncertain.
Sarah noticed.
“You don’t believe that anymore.””
I looked away.
Eight years ago, Claire and I were happy.
At least, I thought we were.
Then one rainy night, she drove home from visiting her sister.
Her car went off the road.
The police called it a tragic accident.
I identified her body.
I attended another funeral.
And I spent years blaming myself for not picking up her final call.
But now someone wanted me to question everything.
I drove straight to the hospital.
Emily was awake when I entered.
The moment she saw my face, she knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
I placed the paper on the table.
She read it.
Her expression changed.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me the truth.””
Her eyes filled with fear.
“What truth?””
“The night Claire died.””
Emily looked down.
The silence answered before she did.
“You know something.””
She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t want to tell you.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid it would destroy you.””
I stepped closer.
“Emily, I just found out someone tried to bury you alive. I think I can handle the truth.””
She looked at me.
Then whispered:
“Michael was there.””
The room went completely silent.
“What?””
“Not at the crash scene.””
She shook her head.
“But earlier that night.””
I stared at her.
“How do you know?””
Emily looked toward the window.
“Because Claire called me.””
I felt like the floor disappeared.
“Claire knew you?””
Emily nodded slowly.
“She contacted me two days before she died.””
“Why?””
“Because she was scared.””
I sat down.
“What did she say?””
Emily’s fingers trembled.
“She said Michael was stealing from your company.””
My jaw tightened.
“Michael?””
“She found financial records. She thought he was using your family business accounts.””
I remembered.
After Claire died, Michael had helped me handle everything.
The paperwork.
The accounts.
The legal documents.
I thought he was being my brother.
But maybe he was cleaning up something else.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Emily looked at me with tears.
“Because Claire asked me not to.””
“Why?””
“She said if Michael knew she had told anyone, he would come after them.””
I stood up.
“And you still married me?””
Emily flinched.
“I loved you.””
The answer broke something inside me.
She reached for my hand.
“But I also watched Michael for years.””
“What do you mean?””
“After Claire died, I kept searching.””
“For what?””
“The truth.””
I stared at her.
“You knew?””
Emily nodded.
“I found proof.””
My heart started racing.
“Where?””
She looked toward her bag.
“Before Michael came to our house that night, I hid everything.””
“Where?””
“In a place he would never think to look.””
She slowly pulled out her phone.
“There is one person who can access it.””
“Who?””
Emily looked at me.
“Maria.””
An hour later, Maria arrived at the hospital.
When she entered the room, Emily immediately grabbed her hand.
“I’m sorry.””
Maria shook her head.
“Don’t apologize.””
“You almost got hurt because of me.””
Maria smiled sadly.
“I would break a hundred coffins if I had to.””
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Emily looked serious.
“Maria, I need the box.””
Maria’s face changed.
She looked at me.
“You told him?””
“I had to.””
Maria slowly opened her purse.
Inside was a small brass key.
“I kept it hidden for eight years.””
My voice was quiet.
“What is it?””
Maria looked at me.
“The truth about Claire.””
She placed the key in my hand.
Then whispered:
“But before you open it, you need to understand something.””
“What?””
May you like
Maria’s eyes filled with fear.
“Michael wasn’t working alone.””
