Chapter 2: The Money Was Never Mine
I barely slept that night.
Marcus locked himself inside his study shortly after midnight. I could hear the printer running, drawers opening, and his occasional phone calls.
At 1:17 A.M., I stood outside the study door with a glass of water.
"Marcus?""
No answer.
I knocked again.
"Baby, please. We need to talk.""
The door opened.
He stood there with his reading glasses in one hand and a stack of documents in the other.
"Come in.""
I entered carefully.
His desk was covered with bank statements, printed emails, and folders from his company's legal department.
He placed a document in front of me.
"Do you recognize this account?""
I glanced down.
It was one of Marcus's investment accounts.
"Yes. I think so.""
"You think so?""
"I remember seeing the account number when we discussed our estate planning.""
Marcus tapped a line on the statement.
"Three hundred thousand dollars was withdrawn from this account yesterday.""
I stared at the figure.
"Maybe Ethan—"
"Don't.""
His voice was so sharp that I stopped immediately.
"I checked the access records. The withdrawal request was submitted using your digital authorization.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't take your money.""
"Then someone used your credentials.""
"Exactly.""
He watched me.
"Who?""
I hesitated.
"Your son has access to your financial records.""
Marcus leaned back.
"Ethan hasn't had access to that account since he was nineteen.""
"Then perhaps someone at the company—"
"Vanessa.""
He removed his glasses.
"Stop giving me names.""
My throat tightened.
For the first time since marrying him, I couldn't tell which answer he wanted to hear.
"Do you think I would steal from you?"" I whispered.
Marcus looked exhausted.
"I think I need to know why someone took three hundred thousand dollars from my account and placed it on my dining table.""
I began crying.
Not loudly.
Just enough to make my voice shake.
"I was trying to protect our marriage.""
He stared at me.
"From what?""
"From Ethan.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"He's my son.""
"I know.""
"Then why do you keep treating him like an enemy?""
I looked away.
"Because he treats me like I don't belong here.""
Marcus didn't respond.
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the garden lights illuminated the perfectly trimmed hedges. Everything looked peaceful.
It was almost insulting.
"I gave up so much to be with you," I said.
"I left my old life behind. I tried to be a good wife. I tried to make this house feel like a family again.""
Marcus stood.
"And I appreciate that.""
"But Ethan will never accept me.""
"That's between Ethan and me.""
"No, Marcus. It became my problem when he started threatening me.""
He studied my face.
Then his phone rang.
The name on the screen made my stomach drop.
*Daniel Reeves — Corporate Attorney.*
Marcus answered.
"Daniel, what have you found?""
I watched his expression change.
He listened without speaking for nearly a minute.
Then he asked, "Are you certain?""
Another pause.
"Send everything to my private email.""
He ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Marcus looked at me.
"Someone attempted to transfer voting rights in my company to a new holding entity.""
I forced myself to breathe.
"Who?""
"The application was rejected.""
"That's good, isn't it?""
"Not when the proposed entity was registered using a residential address belonging to someone in this house.""
My hands went cold.
"Whose address?""
Marcus slid a printed page across the desk.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the address of the apartment I had rented before our marriage.
My old apartment.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Marcus watched me carefully.
"Do you still own that property?""
"I sold it.""
"When?""
"Before we married.""
"To whom?""
I shook my head.
"I don't remember. The real estate agent handled everything.""
Marcus picked up his phone.
"Daniel wants us to come to the office tomorrow morning.""
I nodded.
"Of course.""
"And Ethan will be there.""
My head snapped up.
"Why?""
"Because he discovered the transfer request.""
I let out a quiet breath.
"Marcus, please. Not another confrontation.""
"This isn't about your feelings, Vanessa. It's about my company.""
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I nodded.
"Whatever you think is best.""
He returned to his desk.
I walked out of the study and closed the door behind me.
Then I went into the guest bathroom, locked it, and pulled out my phone.
There was one unread message.
From a number I hadn't saved.
*Unknown:* He found the withdrawal. You need to get the original documents before tomorrow.
My fingers trembled.
I typed quickly.
*Me:* I thought you said everything was handled.
The reply came almost immediately.
*Unknown:* It was. Until Ethan started digging.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Unknown:* Does Marcus know about the first wife?
My blood turned cold.
I deleted the conversation.
But before I could put the phone away, another notification appeared.
A photograph.
It showed an old woman sitting in a wheelchair outside a medical facility.
Underneath it were six words.
*Unknown: She isn't dead, Vanessa.*
I dropped the phone.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Marcus's first wife had supposedly died seven years earlier.
I had seen the funeral photographs.
I had heard the stories.
I had even visited the cemetery with Marcus.
But the woman in the photograph had the same silver hair, the same distinctive eyes, and the same small scar beneath her chin.
Eleanor Cole.
The woman whose death had made my marriage possible.
I picked up the phone with shaking hands.
A final message appeared.
*Unknown:* Ask Ethan why he visits her every Sunday.
I stared at the words.
Then I heard a knock.
"Vanessa?""
It was Marcus.
I quickly locked my phone.
"Yes, darling?""
His voice came through the door.
"There's something I forgot to tell you.""
I opened it.
He stood in the hallway holding a small photograph.
It showed Marcus, Ethan, and Eleanor standing together in front of a Christmas tree.
May you like
Marcus looked directly into my eyes.
"Tomorrow, we're going to visit my first wife.""
