Chapter 3: The Woman in the Messages
I couldn't speak.
Another woman.
The words echoed in my head.
Vanessa had always been jealous.
But jealousy was one thing.
Hiring a private investigator was another.
“Show me,” I said.
Her face tightened.
“What?””
“The messages.””
She looked toward the coffee table.
“I deleted them.””
“Convenient.””
“I was hurt.””
“Or you were hiding something.””
Her head snapped up.
“How dare you?””
“Then prove me wrong.””
Vanessa stood.
“You don't trust me?””
“I don't know what to trust anymore.””
Claire quietly placed her wineglass down.
“I need to say something.””
Vanessa glared at her.
“Don't.””
Claire ignored her.
“The woman wasn't his.””
I stared at Claire.
“What?””
Claire looked uncomfortable.
“I saw the messages.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Claire continued.
“They were from a woman named Rachel.””
My mind raced.
“Rachel?””
Vanessa nodded reluctantly.
“I didn't know who she was.””
I stared at my wife.
“Rachel from accounting?””
She nodded.
“She works with me.””
“She sent you pictures.””
“Of what?””
“Your mother's medication.””
I froze.
“What?””
Vanessa's expression crumbled.
“She said she was helping you.””
I understood nothing.
Claire stepped forward.
“Marcus, Rachel wasn't involved romantically. She was sending information because your mother had missed two appointments.””
My mother looked confused.
“I didn't miss anything.””
I turned toward her.
“You didn't?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know this Rachel.””
Vanessa whispered, “Rachel said you were keeping your mother's condition secret.””
Something about that sentence bothered me.
Not the implication.
The wording.
“My mother's condition?””
Vanessa stared at me.
“You knew.””
“Knew what?””
She suddenly looked frightened.
“I…”
I waited.
Claire looked at her.
“Tell him.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I found your mother's medical papers.””
I looked at Mom.
Mom looked stunned.
“Where?””
“In your desk.””
“That was private.””
“I was trying to understand what was happening.””
“What was happening?””
“She'd been forgetting things.””
Mom stiffened.
“I am old, Marcus. That doesn't mean I'm helpless.””
“I never said you were.””
Vanessa wiped her cheek.
“You were hiding it from me.””
“Because it was her business.””
“No,” Vanessa said.
“Because you didn't trust me.””
I stepped away.
The entire night was unraveling.
The dishes.
The money.
The lies.
The private investigator.
The messages.
My mother.
Somewhere underneath all of it was another story.
And I had no idea whose story it was.
My phone buzzed.
A text message.
Unknown number.
*You need to ask Vanessa what happened at the bank on Tuesday.*
I stared at the screen.
My heart began pounding.
Vanessa noticed my face.
“What is it?””
I locked my phone.
“Nothing.””
“Marcus…”
“Who has access to our financial accounts?””
She looked confused.
“Why?””
“Answer me.””
“Both of us.””
I grabbed my wallet.
“Mom, did you go to the bank Tuesday?””
She frowned.
“I don't remember.””
Vanessa went pale.
“What did she do?””
I looked at my wife.
“That's what I'm trying to figure out.””
Another text arrived.
*She'll deny it. Check the camera footage.*
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“Who is this?”” I whispered.
Vanessa stood frozen.
Claire noticed.
“What's wrong?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“I don't know.””
May you like
But I didn't believe her.
Not anymore.
