Chapter 8: The Betrayal
Alicia stared at Marcus.
“What did she lie to me about?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“You promised you would never tell.””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“I promised a woman who was already dead.””
“You promised Evelyn.””
“I was fourteen.””
“You knew what the promise meant.””
Alicia stepped between them.
“What promise?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“She made Marcus promise that he would keep you away from me.””
Alicia froze.
“Why?””
“Because she believed I would come for the inheritance.””
Alicia looked at the emerald.
“And you did.””
“Yes.””
“Because you thought it belonged to you.””
“Yes.””
Marcus interrupted.
“She didn't tell you the rest.””
Vanessa turned.
“Don't.””
“She needs to know.””
“You don't get to decide that.””
Alicia slammed the emerald onto the table.
“Enough!””
Both fell silent.
Alicia pointed at Marcus.
“You said you loved me.””
“I do.””
“You knew my grandmother wanted me separated from Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Vanessa was family.””
“I didn't know that until later.””
“When?””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“After our wedding.””
Alicia stared.
“You knew after our wedding?””
“Yes.””
“And you stayed married to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Marcus's eyes filled.
“Because by then it wasn't about the inheritance.””
Alicia shook her head.
“You're asking me to believe you suddenly became honest?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“I became afraid.””
“Of Vanessa?””
“Of what would happen if you found out.””
Vanessa whispered, “She already knows.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Not everything.””
Alicia picked up the forged will.
“Who forged this?””
Neither spoke.
Alicia turned the document over.
There was a faint watermark beneath the signature.
She held it toward the light.
A second name appeared.
*JONATHAN COLE.*
Vanessa's face changed.
“That's my father.””
Alicia looked at her.
“You said your mother was the older daughter.””
“She was.””
“Then why is your father's name here?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus suddenly grabbed the document.
“Give me that.””
Alicia pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
“I need to see something.””
“What?””
Marcus pointed to the bottom.
“There.””
Alicia looked.
A small embossed number sat beneath the witness section.
*27.*
Marcus whispered, “That's the number.””
“What number?””
“The safety deposit box.””
Vanessa went pale.
“You said that was destroyed.””
“I thought it was.””
Alicia looked between them.
“What safety deposit box?””
Marcus sat down.
“Your grandmother had one.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I swear.””
Vanessa stepped toward him.
“You knew the number.””
“I remembered the number.””
“Then where is the box?””
Marcus shook his head.
“It doesn't matter.””
Alicia laughed.
“It matters very much.””
She grabbed her grandmother's old wooden box.
Inside the lid, beneath the velvet lining, was a small brass plate.
The number was engraved there.
*27.*
Alicia looked at Marcus.
“You hid this.””
“No.””
“You knew the number.””
“Yes.””
“You knew the box existed.””
“Yes.””
“You knew the emerald was connected to it.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
Marcus lowered his head.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Alicia's voice broke.
“Stop calling betrayal protection.””
Marcus looked up.
She was crying now.
Not loudly.
Just enough for tears to slip down her cheeks.
“I trusted you.””
“I know.””
“You slept beside me.””
“I know.””
“You watched me build a life with you.””
“I know.””
“And all this time, you knew my grandmother had a secret family.””
“I didn't know everything.””
“But you knew enough.””
Marcus couldn't respond.
Vanessa suddenly walked to the bookshelf.
She pulled out the family Bible.
A folded envelope dropped from inside.
She opened it.
Her hands began to shake.
“What?””
Alicia stepped closer.
Vanessa stared at the page.
“My mother wrote this.””
She handed it over.
Alicia read.
*If Evelyn ever tells Alicia that Vanessa is dangerous, don't believe her.*
Alicia looked up.
“What?””
Vanessa pointed to the next line.
*The danger isn't Vanessa.*
Alicia continued reading.
Her eyes widened.
*It's the man Evelyn placed between them.*
Alicia slowly looked toward Marcus.
Marcus's face had gone completely white.
Vanessa whispered, “That's why she warned you about him.””
Alicia shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus stood.
“Alicia, listen to me.””
“You knew.””
“I didn't.””
“You knew she was trying to keep me away from Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
“You knew there was another heir.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the emerald.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew there was a safety deposit box.””
“Yes.””
Alicia backed away.
“What else?””
Marcus said nothing.
“What else, Marcus?””
He closed his eyes.
Vanessa whispered, “Tell her.””
Marcus opened his eyes.
“The divorce wasn't my idea.””
Alicia froze.
“What?””
“I was told to do it.””
“By who?””
Marcus looked toward the suitcase.
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Marcus…”
Alicia stepped closer.
“Who told you to leave me?””
Marcus swallowed.
Then he said a name Alicia had never expected.
“Your grandmother.””
Alicia's face went blank.
“She died before our wedding.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she tell you?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his phone.
There was a message waiting.
The timestamp was from three days earlier.
The sender's name was saved as *Evelyn*.
Alicia stared at the screen.
Marcus whispered, “That's the message that told me to bring Vanessa here.””
Alicia looked at the phone.
Then at Vanessa.
Then back at Marcus.
“Your grandmother has been dead for years.””
“I know.””
“Then who has her phone?””
Marcus's hand began to shake.
The screen lit up again.
A new message appeared.
*STOP LOOKING FOR THE BOX.*
Alicia stared.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*OR VANESSA WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS HOUSE.*
