Chapter 14 - Richard's Secret
Anna returned to the hospital with a bruise on her temple and Marilyn’s last sentence stuck in her head.
Ask Richard why Emily was afraid of him too.
“What happened?”
“Marilyn Cross happened.”
“Why was Emily afraid of you?”
Richard went still.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t.”
His shoulders dropped.
Leo slept between them.
Richard lowered his voice.
“Emily thought I was having an affair.”
Anna blinked.
“Were you?”
“No. But I was hiding something.”
He stared through the hospital window.
“My company was close to collapse. I borrowed money privately to keep it alive.”
“From Evan Brenner?”
Richard nodded.
“After Evan died, someone bought the debt.”
Anna already knew the answer.
“Marilyn?”
“An offshore company. I didn’t know who controlled it.”
“And Emily found out?”
“She found the loan documents. She thought I had put the house at risk. We fought.”
“How bad?”
Richard’s face tightened.
“The night before she died, she told me she was taking Leo and leaving.”
Anna felt the floor shift.
“How did Emily die?”
“A car accident.”
“You told me that.”
“She drove off a wet road.”
“Was she alone?”
Richard looked away.
Anna’s voice became quiet.
“Richard.”
He swallowed.
“Vanessa was in the car.”
Anna stopped breathing.
“She told police Emily lost control. Vanessa had minor injuries.”
“And then eighteen months later you married her?”
“I was grieving. She was there. She helped with Leo.”
Anna stood, furious.
“You never thought that was strange?”
“Of course I did. I hated myself for thinking it.”
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Richard answered.
A woman’s voice came through the speaker.
Vanessa.
“Richard?”
His face hardened. “Where are you?”
She was crying.
“Marilyn is going to kill me.”
Anna leaned closer.
Vanessa whispered, “I can prove what happened to Emily.”
Richard gripped the phone.
“Tell me where you are.”
A pause.
Then Vanessa said, “Bring Anna. She deserves to hear it too.”
The line went dead.
May you like
A location appeared on Richard’s screen.
Emily’s grave.
