Chapter 3: The Eighty-Five-Thousand-Dollar Secret
Marcus stared at the transfer authorization.
Eighty-five thousand dollars.
The amount was too specific to be an ordinary mistake, and the company account number was one he recognized immediately.
He had personally approved the security controls on that account.
Only three people had access.
Himself.
His chief financial officer.
And Vanessa.
“Explain this,” he said.
Vanessa glanced toward the guests.
“Not here.””
Marcus folded the paper.
“You've had plenty of opportunities to explain yourself. Start talking.””
She crossed her arms.
“You know how difficult things have been between us lately.””
“Don't change the subject.””
“You've been treating me like a stranger.””
“Because we're discussing an $85,000 transfer, Vanessa.””
She lowered her voice.
“I needed money.””
Marcus stared at her.
“For what?””
She hesitated.
“My brother.””
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
There it was.
Daniel Reed.
Vanessa's younger brother had been involved in several failed business ventures. Marcus had helped him twice before, providing temporary financial assistance after Vanessa begged him to keep the family together.
But Daniel had never repaid a cent.
“I told you I wouldn't finance another one of his businesses,” Marcus said.
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“He's family.””
“And Ethan is my family.””
“That isn't fair!””
Marcus pointed toward the staircase.
“My son was slapped tonight because you wanted to make him look like a thief. Don't tell me about fairness.””
Vanessa flinched.
One of the guests quietly excused himself.
Another followed.
Within minutes, the reception had become an uncomfortable gathering of people pretending not to listen.
Marcus turned to Mrs. Collins, who had returned downstairs.
“Please ask everyone to leave.””
“Yes, sir.””
When the front door finally closed behind the last guest, Marcus placed the authorization on the table.
“Did you attempt to transfer this money?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I was going to pay it back.””
“When?””
“Soon.””
“That's not an answer.””
She rubbed her forehead.
“Daniel was in trouble. Some investors were threatening him. He said if he didn't pay them by midnight, things would get ugly.””
Marcus shook his head.
“So you decided to take money from my company?””
“I was borrowing it!””
“Without permission.””
“I knew you'd say no!””
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
“So you hid it?””
Vanessa suddenly raised her chin.
“I had a right to some of that money. I've spent years supporting you, attending your events, managing your home—”
“You are not an employee of my company.””
“I am your fiancée!””
The word echoed through the room.
Marcus looked at the ring on her finger.
A beautiful diamond.
He had given it to her eleven months earlier, believing she was someone who would love his son as much as she claimed to love him.
He now wondered how much of that had been an act.
“Did you put the money in Ethan's bag to make me think he stole it?””
Vanessa remained silent.
“Answer me.””
“I panicked.””
“Why?””
She looked at him with sudden desperation.
“Because Ethan saw me!””
Marcus went still.
“What?””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the staircase.
“I didn't want him telling you.””
Marcus slowly set down his phone.
“What did he see?””
She shook her head.
“Nothing important.””
“Vanessa.””
“He saw the envelope. That's all.””
Marcus's voice became colder.
“And you thought the best solution was to put it in his backpack and accuse him of stealing?””
“I didn't plan to hit him!””
“But you did.””
Her lips trembled.
Marcus turned toward the stairs.
“I'm calling the police.””
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“No!””
He pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
“Marcus, please. Think about what this will do to our future.””
“Our future?””
She stepped closer, tears running down her cheeks.
“We were supposed to get married next month.””
Marcus looked at her ring again.
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa's face collapsed.
“You can't be serious.””
“I've never been more serious about anything.””
She suddenly stopped crying.
For a few seconds, her expression became almost unrecognizable.
Then she laughed.
A short, bitter laugh.
“You really think you're going to throw me out because of one little misunderstanding?””
Marcus stared at her.
“One little misunderstanding?””
“You're forgetting something.””
She reached into her purse and removed her phone.
“I have evidence too.””
Marcus didn't move.
“What evidence?””
Vanessa unlocked her phone and opened a photograph.
She turned the screen toward him.
It showed Ethan standing in Marcus's home office.
The boy was holding a small silver key.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
It belonged to the locked cabinet in his private study.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“Your son has been going into your office when you're not home.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“When was this taken?””
“Last Tuesday.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to protect him.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“You've spent the entire evening trying to destroy his credibility. Don't pretend this is about protecting him.””
Vanessa slipped the phone back into her purse.
“Then ask him what he was doing in your office.””
Marcus felt a knot form in his stomach.
He remembered the cabinet.
Inside were documents from his late wife's estate, including a sealed envelope she had left specifically for Ethan.
Marcus had never opened it.
He had promised his wife he would give it to their son when he was old enough to understand.
And the silver key was the only way to access it.
“Why was Ethan holding that key?”” Marcus whispered.
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Now you're asking the right question.””
Before Marcus could respond, footsteps sounded from the staircase.
Ethan appeared at the top, holding Mrs. Collins's hand.
His cheek was still red.
He looked frightened.
“Dad?””
Marcus immediately turned.
“Come here, buddy.””
Ethan walked down slowly.
When he reached his father, he slipped a small hand into Marcus's.
“Dad, I need to tell you something.””
Marcus crouched.
“It's okay. You can tell me anything.””
Ethan glanced nervously at Vanessa.
Then he whispered:
“I went into your office because Mommy told me to find something.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
“Your mommy?””
Ethan nodded, his eyes filling with tears.
“She came to me in a dream last night. She told me where to find the letter.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
His wife had been dead for three years.
He gently brushed Ethan's hair away from his forehead.
“Sweetheart, what letter?””
Ethan reached into the pocket of his black hoodie.
He pulled out a small, yellowed envelope.
Marcus recognized the handwriting immediately.
His late wife's handwriting.
But before he could take it, Vanessa screamed from across the room.
“DON'T OPEN THAT!””
Marcus looked up.
Vanessa was no longer pretending to cry.
She was staring at the envelope as if it were a loaded weapon.
And for the first time that night, Marcus understood something terrifying.
The money, the accusation, and the slap might have been only a distraction.
May you like
Because whatever was written inside that envelope...
Vanessa had clearly been desperate to keep it hidden.
