Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Lies
“He wasn’t supposed to give you that.””
Vivian’s voice was barely a whisper.
But everyone heard it.
Because fear sounds different from anger.
And for the first time since I met her, Vivian Cross wasn’t confident.
She wasn’t smiling.
She wasn’t adjusting her designer purse like she owned the room.
She looked like someone who had just watched a locked door swing open.
I looked down at Rebecca’s envelope.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Vivian.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
My patience was gone.
I picked up the envelope.
“Six years.””
My voice shook.
“Six years, and everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You.””
Then Evelyn’s son’s business partner.
“Her.””
Then Vivian.
“And now you’re standing here afraid because my sister finally left me something you couldn’t control.””
Vivian’s face hardened.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.””
I smiled sadly.
“That’s what people say when they’re losing.””
Marcus stepped toward me.
“Emily, please.””
I looked at him.
“Are you asking me to stop?””
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“I’m asking you to be careful.””
I studied his face.
The fear was real.
Not fake.
Not an act.
For the first time, Marcus looked less like a man hiding a crime and more like a man who knew something dangerous was about to happen.
“Open it,” he whispered.
Vivian turned sharply.
“Marcus.””
He didn’t look at her.
“Open it, Emily.””
The room became still.
I broke the seal.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Not a letter.
A document.
Rebecca’s handwriting was across the top.
*Evidence Log.*
My heart dropped.
I read the first line.
*Person responsible for falsifying company records: Vivian Cross.*
The room disappeared.
I looked up.
Vivian didn’t move.
Not because she was innocent.
Because she knew.
“You’re lying,” she said.
Her voice was controlled again.
Almost.
I looked back at the page.
There were dates.
Transaction numbers.
Names.
Emails.
My sister had spent months building a case.
And at the bottom was a note.
*Marcus knows part of the truth but does not know everything.*
I looked at him.
“You knew.””
Marcus looked down.
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“You knew she was stealing.””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
My voice rose.
“My sister was investigating this woman, and you only suspected?””
“I needed proof.””
“Rebecca was proof!””
He flinched.
Because he knew.
He knew every word was deserved.
Vivian stepped forward.
“You don’t understand what happened.””
I turned.
“I understand enough.””
“No, you don’t.””
Her voice sharpened.
“Rebecca was reckless.””
The room went cold.
“Don’t talk about my sister like that.””
“She put everyone at risk.””
“She was trying to expose you.””
Vivian’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
“You think Rebecca was a hero?””
The question made my blood run cold.
“What?””
Vivian laughed softly.
“She wasn’t innocent.””
Marcus immediately said:
“Vivian.””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“She deserves to know.””
I stared.
“Know what?””
Vivian walked closer.
“Your sister wasn’t just investigating me.””
“What was she doing?””
“She was investigating your husband too.””
I looked at Marcus.
His face went pale.
“Is that true?””
He didn’t answer.
Again.
That silence.
That terrible silence.
I shook my head.
“You knew.””
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Rebecca didn’t trust me.””
“Why?””
“Because of how we met.””
The answer hurt because it made sense.
Rebecca had always been protective.
She would have questioned him.
She would have seen the lies.
“She thought I was using you.””
I looked at him.
“Was she wrong?””
He had no answer.
Vivian smiled.
“There it is.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
“The truth.””
She folded her arms.
“Your sister knew Marcus wasn’t who he pretended to be.””
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Don’t.””
But Vivian continued.
“She knew he approached you because of your father.””
I closed my eyes.
I already knew.
But hearing it again still hurt.
“She knew he was investigating your family.””
“Stop.””
“She knew he was hiding things.””
“Vivian.””
“And she still died trying to protect you from both of us.””
The words hit me.
Both of us.
I looked at Marcus.
Then Vivian.
“What did you mean?””
Nobody spoke.
I stepped closer.
“What did you mean by both of you?””
Marcus looked devastated.
Vivian looked angry.
And that was the answer.
She was angry because I was getting close.
“Marcus?””
He looked at the floor.
“I wasn’t the only one looking into your father.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who else?””
He looked at Vivian.
“Her.””
Vivian’s expression changed.
“That’s not what happened.””
Marcus ignored her.
“She approached me after Rebecca found the documents.””
“Why?””
“She wanted the same information.””
“Why?””
His jaw tightened.
“Because your father had something.””
I stared.
“Something what?””
“A record.””
“Of what?””
Marcus hesitated.
Then said:
“Of who was actually behind the financial crimes.””
I looked at Vivian.
“And that was you?””
She laughed.
“No.””
But she sounded desperate now.
“I was trying to uncover the same thing.””
“Then why is your name on Rebecca’s evidence?””
She froze.
Because she didn’t have an answer.
Marcus walked toward the window.
His shoulders looked heavier than I had ever seen.
“I thought Vivian was helping me.””
“And then?””
“She wasn’t.””
I stared.
“When did you find out?””
“The night Rebecca died.””
My heart stopped.
The room became silent again.
“Tell me everything.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I met Rebecca at the warehouse.””
“The picture.””
“Yes.””
“She had the evidence?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
He closed his eyes.
“She showed me the documents.””
“What did they prove?””
“That Vivian had been moving money through fake accounts connected to my company.””
I looked at Vivian.
She didn’t deny it.
“She was stealing from us.””
Marcus continued.
“And then she arrived.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
His eyes moved toward Vivian.
“She followed me.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“She wanted the documents.””
Vivian finally snapped.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
Marcus ignored her.
“Rebecca realized she was in danger.””
I whispered:
“What happened next?””
Marcus’s voice broke.
“She ran.””
The image came back.
My sister.
A dark road.
A storm.
Fear.
“What did you do?””
His eyes filled.
“I followed.””
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to stop Vivian.””
I looked at him.
“Did you catch up?””
“Yes.””
My breathing slowed.
“And?””
Marcus looked at the floor.
“That was when the accident happened.””
I froze.
“Accident?””
He swallowed.
“I saw Rebecca’s car leave the road.””
My hand moved over my stomach.
“Were you driving?””
“No.””
“Were you in the car?””
“No.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
His face collapsed.
“Because Vivian threatened me.””
Silence.
Vivian looked furious.
“Don’t blame me for your weakness.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“You threatened Emily.””
“And you believed me.””
That sentence changed everything.
I looked at Marcus.
“What did she threaten you with?””
He didn’t answer.
“Marcus.””
His eyes met mine.
“She said if I told the truth, she would make sure you lost everything.””
I stared.
“She knew about me?””
“She knew everything.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“My pregnancy?””
“No.””
His voice became quiet.
“Before that.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Marcus looked at Vivian.
“She knew about Rebecca.””
I felt the room tilt.
“She knew you were pregnant before I did?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Marcus whispered:
“She knew Rebecca wasn’t alone that night.””
I held my breath.
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, the office lights suddenly went out.
The room went dark.
Someone gasped.
Then came the sound of glass breaking.
A shadow moved near the window.
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“Get down!””
I fell behind the desk as something crashed against the wall.
When the emergency lights flickered on, the room was empty.
Except for one thing.
The black box containing Rebecca’s letter was gone.
And on the desk was a note.
My name written across it.
*You should have listened to Marcus.*
I picked it up with shaking hands.
There was one more sentence.
One that made Marcus go completely pale.
*Your sister died because she trusted the wrong person.*
I looked at him.
“Who wrote this?””
Marcus stared at the note.
Then whispered:
“I know exactly who.””
I waited.
May you like
His voice barely came out.
“It was Rebecca’s handwriting.””
