Chapter Five
535 Words
The room spun. I grabbed the desk to steady myself.
"He can't do that," Michael said. "I'm still married."
"Not according to him. He has connections. Judges. Politicians. He can make your marriage disappear with a phone call."
"Over my dead body," Michael growled.
"That can be arranged," a voice said from the doorway.
We all turned. Vanessa stood there in a red dress, perfect as always. But her eyes were cold.
"How did you find us?"
"I've been following you. Did you really think you could hide from me?"
Adrian moved toward her, but she pulled out a gun.
"Don't. I will shoot."
"What do you want?" I asked, stepping forward. "Let Lisa go. This is between you and Michael."
Vanessa laughed. "Oh, sweetie. This has nothing to do with Michael. This is about you."
"What?"
"You really don't know, do you?" She looked at Michael. "You didn't tell her?"
"Tell me what?"
Michael's face went pale. "Vanessa, don't."
"She deserves to know. Your precious wife isn't who she thinks she is."
My heart pounded. "What are you talking about?"
"Your mother. Before she died, she worked for Richard Cross. She was his secretary. His lover. And she stole from him."
"That's not true," I said, but my voice was weak.
"It's true. She stole millions. Disappeared before he could catch her. And then she died, leaving you with all that money."
"My mother didn't have millions. She died with nothing."
"Because she hid it. And Richard wants it back. That's why he sent Michael after you. To marry you. To get close to you. To find where she hid the money."
I looked at Michael. "Is that true?"
He didn't answer. He couldn't even look at me.
"Oh my God. It's true."
"Sophia—" He reached for me, but I backed away.
"All of it. Everything. It was all a lie."
"No. It started as a lie. But I fell in love with you. Really fell in love with you."
"I don't believe you." Tears streamed down my face. "I don't believe anything you say."
Vanessa smiled. "Smart girl. Now, you're coming with me. Richard wants to talk about that money."
"She's not going anywhere," Michael said.
"Then I'll kill your brother. Your choice."
Adrian held up his hands. "Hey, I'm not part of this family drama."
"Yes, you are. You've always been part of it. Richard's dirty little secret."
I made a decision. A stupid, reckless decision. But it was the only one I had.
"I'll go. Just don't hurt anyone else."
"Sophia, no—" Michael started.
"It's my choice." I looked at him one last time. "You lied to me. You used me. But I'm going to end this. Once and for all."
I walked to Vanessa. She grabbed my arm, the gun still pointed at the others.
"Smart choice. Let's go."
As she pulled me toward the door, I looked back at Michael. His face was broken. Destroyed.
Good, I thought. Now he knows how I feel.
But then I saw something in his eyes. Something that made my breath catch.
He wasn't giving up.
He was planning.
And somehow, I knew this wasn't over. Not even close.
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