Chapter 7: The Woman He Buried
The woman stepped fully into the foyer.
Nobody breathed.
Diane stared at her as if she were looking at a ghost.
Marcus looked from the woman to his mother.
“Who is she?””
The woman held the old design book against her chest.
Her silver-streaked hair was pulled into a neat bun. She wore a dark blue coat despite the warm summer night.
Then she looked directly at Diane.
“You already know.””
Diane’s lips trembled.
“No.””
The woman smiled sadly.
“You always were a terrible liar.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Answer me. Who are you?””
The woman looked at him.
“My name is Rebecca Hale.””
Evelyn whispered, “Rebecca.””
Rebecca's eyes hardened.
“You remember me.””
Marcus stared.
“Why did you say that isn't her name?””
Rebecca looked at Diane.
“Because your father didn't have a first wife.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“He had a first partner.””
Diane's face tightened.
“Rebecca, please.””
“No.””
Rebecca stepped inside and closed the door.
“You've had eight years to tell him.””
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Tell me what?””
Diane couldn't speak.
Rebecca answered.
“Your father and I built that collection together.””
Marcus stared at the design book.
“You designed the shoes?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“Your mother did.””
She looked at Diane.
“I created the business. She created the designs.””
Diane whispered, “We were partners.””
“And then your father convinced you to sign the company away.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“Dad did what?””
Diane's eyes filled.
“He said we needed protection.””
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“He said a woman couldn't protect a luxury company.””
Marcus looked at the design book.
“Then why did he have it?””
“Because he took it.””
Rebecca placed the book on the foyer table.
“He copied every design.””
Diane stepped closer.
“I didn't know.””
“I know.””
“I thought the company was ours.””
“It was.””
Rebecca looked at her.
“Until he changed the contracts.””
Evelyn finally spoke.
“Rebecca, you shouldn't have come.””
Rebecca turned.
“Neither should you.””
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
Marcus looked at her.
“What did you do?””
Rebecca answered.
“She helped him.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I tried to stop him.””
“You warned me once.””
“Yes.””
“And then you went silent.””
“I was afraid.””
Rebecca's expression softened for a second.
“So was I.””
Marcus looked between them.
“Why did my father tell Vanessa to take the shoes?””
Rebecca's face changed.
“He didn't.””
Vanessa suddenly appeared at the staircase.
“I told you.””
Marcus turned.
“You were still here.””
Vanessa walked down slowly.
Rebecca looked at her.
“You weren't supposed to bring the book.””
Vanessa held her hands together.
“I had no choice.””
Rebecca's gaze moved to Marcus.
“She was supposed to deliver it to me.””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“You were working with Rebecca?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Only at first.””
“At first?””
Vanessa looked at Diane.
“Claire told me to find the shoes. Rebecca told me to find the book.””
Diane stepped closer.
“Why?””
Rebecca answered.
“Because the book contains the original ownership records.””
Marcus frowned.
“A design book has ownership records?””
Rebecca opened it.
The first pages contained sketches.
Elegant shoes.
Handwritten notes.
Dates.
Then she turned several pages.
Contracts had been carefully folded into the binding.
Marcus leaned closer.
His father's signature appeared on one.
Below it was Diane's.
And beneath that—
Rebecca's.
Marcus looked at his mother.
“Why didn't you ever tell me?””
Diane touched the page.
“Because I believed your father had destroyed them.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“He tried.””
She pointed to a burned corner.
“But Evelyn saved the originals.””
Marcus turned toward Evelyn.
“You knew?””
Evelyn nodded.
“I kept them hidden.””
“From my father?””
“From everyone.””
“Why?””
“Because he threatened to destroy Diane if I exposed him.””
Diane looked at her.
“You should have trusted me.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Marcus froze.
“Alive?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your father wasn't just stealing designs.””
Rebecca opened another section.
Photographs slid out.
Marcus picked up the first.
His father stood beside a younger Vanessa.
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Vanessa.””
Vanessa looked down.
Rebecca said quietly,
“She was seventeen.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why was my father photographing her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know.””
Rebecca reached for another photograph.
“This was taken six weeks before his death.””
It showed Vanessa entering the mansion.
Then another.
Vanessa leaving with a black case.
Marcus looked at her.
“What was in the case?””
“I don't know.””
“You were carrying it.””
“I was told to.””
“By Claire?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Claire said your father had something that could destroy my family.””
Marcus looked at Rebecca.
“What did Claire want?””
Rebecca closed the book.
“The truth.””
“What truth?””
Rebecca's eyes moved to Diane.
“Your father had another secret.””
Diane whispered,
“Rebecca, don't.””
“He didn't die because of the company.””
Marcus's face went pale.
“Then why?””
Rebecca looked toward the pool outside.
“Because six weeks before he died, he discovered who had been using his name to steal money.””
Marcus waited.
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“And that person wasn't Patricia.””
The front door suddenly rattled.
Everyone turned.
A second later, someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Rebecca's expression changed.
She whispered,
“That's him.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who?””
May you like
Rebecca stared at the door.
“The man your father was afraid of.””
