Chapter 5: The Email That Revealed Her Real Plan
I read the message three times.
What happens after Marcus signs?
Five words.
Five words that made everything I'd heard that afternoon feel even more sinister.
I opened the screenshot.
The email had been sent four months earlier.
Nia's message read:
Once Marcus signs the final documents, the bank will release the money. We can finally move forward without worrying about him questioning every expense.
Jordan's reply was underneath.
And what if he finds out?
Nia had answered:
He won't. By the time he notices, we'll already have everything in place.
My stomach twisted.
I looked at my wife.
"What's this?""
Nia stared at the screen.
For a moment, she looked genuinely confused.
Then her face changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"Does it matter?""
"Who sent it to you?""
I turned the phone toward her.
"Did you write this?""
She shook her head.
"I need to see the entire conversation.""
"Why?""
"Because that screenshot could be edited.""
Jordan suddenly stepped forward.
"Marcus, don't listen to whoever sent that.""
I looked at him.
"Why? Is it fake?""
He didn't answer.
David took the phone from my hand and examined the screenshot.
"Can you access her email?""
I looked at Nia.
"Can I?""
She crossed her arms.
"That's my private account.""
David gave a humorless laugh.
"Interesting. But apparently your husband's identity and money weren't private enough.""
Nia glared at him.
"Stay out of this.""
David stepped forward.
"You're standing in my brother's house, and you've helped put him in financial danger. Don't tell me where I can stand.""
I raised my hand.
"Both of you. Stop.""
Then I looked at Nia.
"I don't want your password. I want you to explain that email.""
She looked down.
"It was taken out of context.""
"What context makes that sentence acceptable?""
"I was frustrated.""
"With me?""
She nodded.
"Yes. You always questioned Jordan's business. You never wanted me to help him.""
I stared at her.
"Because he's your ex-boyfriend.""
"He was struggling!""
"And I was your husband!""
Her expression hardened.
"You always made me feel like I had to choose between people.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You made that choice yourself when you decided to lie to me.""
Jordan interrupted.
"Marcus, we need to talk about the money, not your marriage.""
I turned toward him.
"You've been sleeping with my wife's secrets for almost a year. You don't get to decide what we talk about.""
He looked down.
David picked up the black folder.
"I'm taking copies of these documents. We're going to an attorney first thing tomorrow.""
Nia immediately objected.
"You can't take those!""
David looked at her.
"They concern Marcus's identity. I think he has every right to preserve them.""
I nodded.
"Make copies of everything.""
While David worked, I walked into the kitchen.
The house looked exactly as it had that morning.
Two coffee mugs sat beside the sink.
A small vase of flowers stood on the counter.
A photograph from our fourth wedding anniversary was displayed near the refrigerator.
Nia had her arms around my neck in that picture.
I remembered that evening.
She had kissed me and whispered, "I wouldn't trade this life for anything.""
Now I wondered whether she'd been thinking about someone else while saying it.
I heard footsteps.
Nia entered the kitchen.
"Marcus, can we talk alone?""
I didn't turn around.
"There's nothing left to discuss.""
"Please.""
She came closer.
"I know I made mistakes.""
I looked at her.
"How many times are you going to call this a mistake?""
"I never wanted to destroy our marriage.""
"Then why did you keep doing things that could destroy it?""
She wiped her eyes.
"Jordan promised me the business would become successful. He said we'd make enough money to buy another property. I thought we could use the profits to improve our life.""
"Our life?""
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"Did you love him?""
She froze.
It was a simple question.
One I'd avoided asking for two years.
Now I needed the answer.
"Did you ever stop loving him?""
She looked toward the hallway.
"I don't know.""
That answer hurt more than I expected.
I nodded.
"At least that's honest.""
She reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
"Marcus, please. Don't throw away four years.""
I looked at her.
"You threw them away every time you chose to lie.""
Her phone vibrated on the counter.
She immediately picked it up.
I noticed her expression change.
"What is it?""
"Nothing.""
She slipped the phone into her pocket.
I held out my hand.
"Show me.""
"No.""
"Who messaged you?""
"Nobody.""
I stared at her.
Then I noticed the screen lighting up again.
A preview appeared.
*JORDAN: Tell him about the apartment before he hears it from someone else.*
I felt my chest tighten.
"Apartment?""
Nia closed her eyes.
I stepped closer.
"What apartment?""
She looked like she wanted to disappear.
"Marcus, it's complicated.""
"Then make it simple.""
She sat down at the kitchen table.
For a few seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she whispered, "Jordan and I rented an apartment.""
I stared at her.
"When?""
"Six months ago.""
The words seemed to hang in the air.
"Why?""
She looked down.
"To meet.""
I gripped the edge of the counter.
"How often?""
"Not every week.""
"That wasn't my question.""
She began crying.
"Sometimes.""
I laughed without humor.
"Sometimes. That's what we're calling it?""
She pressed her palms against her face.
"We didn't want anyone to know.""
"Obviously.""
"It wasn't supposed to become serious.""
I stared at her.
"You rented an apartment with your ex-boyfriend while living in my house, sleeping in my bed, and wearing the ring I gave you?""
She nodded.
I turned away.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I heard David approaching.
"Marcus, I found something.""
He held up a printed lease agreement.
It had apparently been included among the papers Jordan brought.
I took it.
The apartment was located twenty minutes from our home.
The lease began six months earlier.
The tenants were Jordan and Nia.
But something else caught my attention.
The rent was $2,400 per month.
Paid from a bank account I didn't recognize.
I looked at Nia.
"Whose account is this?""
She didn't answer.
I examined the last page.
The account holder was listed as Reed Property Solutions.
The company registered under my identity.
I slowly raised my eyes.
"You used my company to pay for your apartment?""
Nia started sobbing.
Jordan appeared in the doorway.
"Marcus, let me explain.""
I turned toward him.
"How much?""
He frowned.
"What?""
"How much money from that company paid for the apartment?""
He looked at Nia.
She shook her head.
Jordan exhaled.
"Approximately twenty-eight thousand dollars.""
David swore under his breath.
I placed the lease on the table.
Twenty-eight thousand dollars.
Our savings.
Our future home.
My reputation.
And apparently, an apartment where my wife had been meeting her ex-boyfriend.
I walked to the front door and opened it.
Jordan stared at me.
"You're throwing me out?""
"Yes.""
"Marcus, listen—"
"Leave before I call the police.""
He grabbed his backpack.
Nia rushed after him.
"Jordan, wait!""
I turned.
"You're leaving with him?""
She stopped.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Nia looked at me.
"I need to talk to him.""
I nodded slowly.
"Then go.""
Her eyes widened.
"Marcus...""
"Go talk to him. But don't come back expecting everything to be the same.""
She stood motionless.
Then she picked up her handbag.
At the doorway, she turned around.
"I never wanted you to find out this way.""
I looked at her.
"That's the problem, Nia. You never wanted me to find out at all.""
She walked out.
David closed the door behind her.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Brother, there's something else.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He held up his phone.
"The person who sent you that screenshot just sent me another message.""
I frowned.
"Who is it?""
David turned the screen toward me.
The message contained a photograph of a document.
It was a life insurance policy.
My name was listed as the insured person.
Nia was the beneficiary.
The policy amount was $750,000.
I stared at the date.
May you like
It had been issued five months earlier.
And in the section marked Applicant's Authorization, there was a signature that looked almost exactly like mine.
