Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew My Husband's Secret
“Mrs. Mitchell, I think you deserve to know what happened to the last woman my husband tried to acquire.””
The woman's voice came through the intercom again.
I looked at Marcus.
His face had lost every trace of color.
“Don't let her inside,” he whispered.
I pulled my wrist away.
“You don't get to decide who enters my house.””
“Sarah, please. You don't understand who she is.””
“Then perhaps she can explain.””
I pressed the intercom button.
“I'm listening.””
A woman answered immediately.
“My name is Victoria Hale. I'm Victor's wife. I know about the loan, the forged documents, and your husband's arrangement with my husband.””
I glanced at Marcus.
He was shaking his head.
Victoria continued.
“But there's something else. Something involving your marriage that you need to hear before Monday.””
I unlocked the front door.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Sarah, I'm leaving.””
“Sit down.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because if she tells you everything, there's no going back.””
I stared at him.
“Marcus, there hasn't been a way back since you signed my name.””
The door opened.
A woman in her late thirties stepped inside.
She wore a dark green coat and carried a leather handbag. Her brown hair was tied loosely behind her neck.
She looked tired.
Not physically exhausted.
Emotionally exhausted.
Her eyes moved from me to Marcus.
“So,” she said quietly.
“You really did marry her.””
Marcus stood.
“Victoria, you shouldn't be here.””
She gave a humorless laugh.
“That's what your father told me three years ago.””
She placed her handbag on the coffee table.
Then she looked at me.
“Sarah, may I sit?””
I nodded.
Victoria settled into the armchair.
Marcus remained standing.
I folded my arms.
“Start talking.””
Victoria opened her handbag and removed a thick envelope.
“Three years ago, my husband approached a businessman named Daniel Foster. Daniel owned a successful property investment company. Victor offered him financing for a major development.””
I listened carefully.
“The arrangement was legitimate at first. Then Victor began asking for access to Daniel's other businesses. He wanted voting rights, private guarantees, and control over several properties.””
“What happened?””
“Daniel refused.””
Victoria opened the envelope.
She removed several printed emails.
“Six months later, Daniel was accused of financial misconduct. His business partners withdrew. His bank accounts were frozen. His company collapsed.””
I looked at Marcus.
He was staring at the floor.
“Was he guilty?”” I asked.
Victoria shook her head.
“Eventually, the allegations were withdrawn. But by then, Daniel had lost almost everything.””
“And his wife?””
Victoria looked down.
“Her name was Emily. She tried to help him fight the accusations.””
“What happened to her?””
“She died in a car accident.””
The room became very quiet.
Victoria continued.
“The police ruled it accidental. Daniel never accepted that conclusion. He believed someone had deliberately caused the accident.””
I swallowed.
“Are you saying Victor was involved?””
“I'm saying I found communications suggesting he had been monitoring Emily. I don't have proof that he caused her death.””
She pushed a photograph across the table.
It showed a younger man standing beside a woman outside a restaurant.
The woman looked happy.
“That's Daniel and Emily,” Victoria said.
Then she removed another photograph.
This one showed Marcus.
And Robert.
Standing beside Victor Hale.
The date printed beneath it was six months before my wedding.
I stared at the image.
“Where did you get this?””
“From my husband's private files.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“Victoria, stop.””
She turned toward him.
“Why? Are you afraid she'll find out you knew?””
He said nothing.
Victoria looked back at me.
“Your father-in-law approached Victor because he wanted access to your company. Victor had already studied your business for months. He knew your collection, your investments, and the value of your private holdings.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Why didn't he approach me directly?””
“Because he believed you would refuse.””
She paused.
“Robert told Victor that you were private, independent, and unlikely to trust anyone who approached you about money.””
I glanced at Marcus.
Victoria's next words came slowly.
“Robert believed the easiest way to reach your assets was through marriage.””
I sat down.
For a moment, I couldn't feel my hands.
“Are you telling me my husband married me as part of a business arrangement?””
Victoria looked at Marcus.
“Ask him.””
I turned.
“Marcus?””
He rubbed his face.
“My father introduced me to you at the charity auction.””
“I know.””
“He told me about your company.””
“I know that too.””
“But I didn't know he had planned everything.””
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“That's not true.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I found your emails.””
She removed another document.
“Eight months before the wedding, you asked Robert whether the marriage would give you access to Sarah's investment portfolio.””
I felt something inside me break.
Marcus looked at the document.
Then at me.
“Sarah, I was young. I was stupid.””
“You were thirty years old.””
“I didn't know how serious it was.””
“You asked your father whether marrying me would give you access to my money.””
He lowered his eyes.
I remembered our wedding.
The flowers.
The music.
His promise that I would never have to face anything alone.
Had he been looking at me or at the company behind me?
Victoria interrupted.
“There is one more thing.””
She opened the envelope again.
“This is why I came tonight.””
She placed a small USB drive on the table.
“Victor has a recorded conversation between Robert and Marcus.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Give me that.””
Victoria pulled it away.
“No.””
“Victoria, you have no idea what you're doing.””
“I know exactly what I'm doing.””
She looked at me.
“The recording was made during a private meeting last month. Robert discusses the loan, the forged authorization, and the proposed acquisition of your company.””
I stared at the USB drive.
“Can we listen to it?””
“Yes.””
Victoria handed it to me.
Marcus moved toward the table.
“Sarah, don't.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“Because my father says things he doesn't mean.””
Victoria stood.
“That's what you told Daniel Foster.””
I inserted the drive into my laptop.
The audio file appeared.
I pressed play.
At first, there was only background noise.
Then Robert's voice filled the room.
“Once the bank releases the final amount, Victor will have the security he needs.””
Marcus answered.
“And Sarah?””
“Sarah won't know until it's done.””
“What if she refuses to sign?””
Robert laughed.
“She won't have a choice. By then, the company will already be tied to the agreement.””
There was a brief pause.
Then Marcus asked, “And if she finds out about the original plan?””
Robert's voice became colder.
“Then you remind her that she's married into this family. She has obligations.””
Marcus said nothing.
Robert continued.
“You were supposed to make her trust you. Instead, you're letting her run around like she owns the world.””
I stopped the recording.
My hands were shaking.
Marcus looked at me.
“Sarah—”
I raised one hand.
“Don't.””
He stepped closer.
“I can explain.””
I turned the laptop toward him.
“Your father said you were supposed to make me trust you.””
Marcus looked away.
Victoria gathered her handbag.
“There's more in the recording. But I think you need time.””
I looked at her.
“Why are you helping me?””
Her expression softened.
“Because I should have helped Emily sooner.””
She paused.
“And because I know what happens when Victor believes someone has become a problem.””
She reached into her coat and handed me a card.
“My lawyer's contact details. He has copies of everything.””
I stood.
“Thank you.””
Victoria nodded.
Then she turned toward Marcus.
“One more thing. Victor knows about your children.””
Marcus's head snapped up.
“What?””
Victoria looked at him.
“He asked me yesterday whether Sarah had taken the children out of the country.””
I felt my heart tighten.
“Why would he ask that?””
Victoria didn't answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Because Robert has been discussing a way to force you to cooperate.””
Marcus grabbed his phone.
“I need to call my father.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Don't bother. He's already talking to Victor.””
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned to me.
“Sarah, please be careful. They are not going to stop because you've discovered the truth.””
The door closed behind her.
I stood in the living room.
Marcus was still staring at the USB drive.
Then he looked at me.
“Sarah, I know I've done terrible things.””
I said nothing.
“But I never wanted anything to happen to the children.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell me why your father has been asking whether they're leaving the country.””
His face crumpled.
“I don't know.””
“Do you expect me to believe that?””
He shook his head.
“I swear.””
I walked toward the staircase.
“Leave.””
“Sarah—”
“Leave my house.””
He hesitated.
Then he picked up his jacket.
At the door, he stopped.
“There's something I haven't told you.””
I didn't turn around.
“What?””
“My father has a copy of your old passport.””
I looked back.
“What?””
“He took it from the house last month.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
Marcus swallowed.
“He said he needed it for the loan verification.””
I stared at him.
Then I understood.
They hadn't simply been planning to take my company.
They had been collecting documents that could make their fraudulent arrangement appear legitimate.
Marcus opened the door.
And before he walked out, he said:
“Sarah, I think my father is planning to leave the country.””
At 11:38 p.m., Daniel called.
“Sarah, we've identified Victor's next move.””
I sat at my desk.
“Tell me.””
“Blackridge Partners has scheduled a private meeting with several potential investors. They're presenting a proposed acquisition of your company.””
“When?””
“Monday morning.””
I closed my eyes.
“Can they legally sell something they don't own?””
“No. But they're attempting to convince investors that they already have authorization.””
“Then we stop it.””
“There's another problem.””
I waited.
“Robert has transferred a substantial amount of money into an overseas account. We believe he's preparing to leave.””
I looked at the USB drive.
“Can you find him?””
“We're trying.””
Then Daniel added:
“Sarah, the bank has just sent us a notice.””
“What notice?””
“A request to verify your identity in person before releasing the collateral.””
I exhaled.
“That's good.””
“Not exactly.””
He paused.
“The bank says someone has already completed the verification.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
May you like
Daniel answered quietly.
“Someone using your identity.””
