Chapter6: Behind the mask
1328 Words
Leah paced back and forth in the mansion’s living room, her hands trembling. Maria’s words wouldn’t leave her mind.
“They took Xavier… said something about bribery and forged documents.”
Leah had tried calling him a dozen times, but his phone was off. She didn’t know whether to cry or scream. All she knew was that the only person she trusted—even if he was confusing and cold—was now sitting in a police station.
She turned to Maria.
“How long will they keep him?”
Maria sighed. “Depends. If someone really filed a report against him, there’ll be a hearing.”
Leah’s heart raced. “Who would do that?”
Maria looked down. “Could be a board member. Or someone from… the past.”
The name echoed in Leah’s head before Maria even said it.
Clarissa.
“Do you think she’s behind this?” Leah whispered.
Maria hesitated. “She was once powerful in the company. She knew everything—legal loopholes, contract policies. She could easily make this look like fraud.”
Leah clenched her fists. “Then I need to see her.”
***
Hours later, news broke online that Xavier had been released—but not cleared.
The media had surrounded him outside the station, flashing cameras and shouting questions.
"Mr. Knight, is your wife real?"
"Did you pay her to marry you for shares?"
"Is this your second fraud case?"
Videos of the incident flooded the internet. In one, Xavier pushed past reporters with blood on his lip and a look of pure rage on his face.
Leah watched the clip with tears running down her cheeks.
This wasn’t just public humiliation. It was sabotage.
Later that night, Xavier walked through the door, slamming it shut behind him. He looked exhausted—his shirt torn, his tie gone, his hair a mess.
Leah ran to him, but he brushed past her.
“Xavier—”
“Don’t.”
She froze.
He poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.
“I told you not to trust anyone,” he said bitterly. “And look what happened.”
Leah’s voice shook. “I didn’t do this. You have to believe me.”
“I don’t think you did,” he muttered. “But someone wants to destroy me. And it all started after our wedding.”
She felt her chest tighten. “You think marrying me caused this?”
He turned, eyes blazing. “It gave them the opportunity.”
Leah stepped back, tears welling up. “So you regret it?”
Xavier didn’t answer. And that hurt more than if he had screamed.
***
The next morning, Leah decided to confront Clarissa. Maria gave her the address.
It was a sleek apartment downtown, guarded by heavy security.
Leah stood outside the building, trying not to panic. She rang the bell.
Clarissa opened the door with a smug smile. “I knew you’d come.”
“I want the truth,” Leah said. “Did you file that report?”
Clarissa leaned against the doorframe. “Why would I admit to that?”
“Because Xavier’s being destroyed and you’re the only one who benefits.”
Clarissa raised a brow. “He destroyed himself long before you came along.”
“What are you talking about?”
She walked inside, gesturing for Leah to follow.
On the coffee table sat a thick file. Clarissa handed it over.
“Read that. Then come back and tell me who the villain is.”
Leah flipped it open and gasped.
Inside were photos, signed documents, and surveillance images of Xavier handing over envelopes to someone outside the hospital—months ago. Alongside it was a forged marriage certificate dated before their wedding.
“No,” Leah whispered. “This can’t be real.”
“Oh, it’s real,” Clarissa said coldly. “He forged documents to make the marriage look legal earlier, to avoid company scrutiny. If this goes to court, you could go down too.”
Leah’s legs went numb. She dropped the file.
“But why…?”
Clarissa crossed her arms. “Because Xavier doesn’t care about you. You were a pawn. A temporary solution. He planned it all.”
Leah shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”
“Suit yourself. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
***
Back at the mansion, Leah stormed into Xavier’s office, her face pale.
“You forged our marriage certificate before we even signed the contract?” she asked, voice shaking.
Xavier looked up slowly.
“So Clarissa showed you,” he said quietly.
“So it’s true?” Leah whispered.
He stood. “I did it for your protection. If the board thought the marriage was rushed, they would’ve blocked it. They’d demand your records, your mother’s condition, everything.”
“You could’ve told me!” she yelled.
“You would’ve said no!”
“You used me!”
“No,” he said firmly, walking closer. “I saved you.”
She slapped him.
It echoed across the room.
He didn’t flinch.
“I'm sorry,” she said through tears. “But I can’t do this anymore.”
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand.
“Wait—Leah…”
She paused.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
She turned slowly. “What?”
He hesitated. “Clarissa… she’s not just my ex. She’s the one who helped Darius—my brother—embezzle from the company.”
Leah blinked. “What?”
“She played both of us. After Darius was arrested, she vanished. I kept it quiet to protect the company’s name. But now she’s back, and she wants revenge—for being cut out of everything.”
Leah felt the floor slip beneath her.
Everything was tangled.
Everyone was hiding something.
“Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” she asked.
“Because I didn’t want to drag you into it.”
“But you did,” she whispered. “I’m drowning in this now, Xavier.”
He let go of her hand. “Then maybe you should walk away.”
She stared at him, heart breaking.
Maybe she should.
But then Maria burst into the room, out of breath.
“There’s something you both need to see. Now.”
She turned on the TV.
A breaking news report was playing.
“…Insider footage reveals that the leak about Xavier Knight’s marriage came from a senior employee in his own company. More details coming in—”
The screen flashed to a grainy video of someone dropping a file into a mailbox.
Leah leaned forward, heart pounding.
“Wait… zoom in.”
They did.
It was Maria.
***
Leah turned slowly, eyes wide.
Maria looked stunned. “No—no, that’s not me. That’s not—”
Xavier stepped back. “Is this true?”
“No! I swear! It’s been edited—someone’s setting me up!”
Leah couldn’t breathe.
Everything was falling apart.
“You were the only one who knew about our hospital trip,” Xavier said, voice cold.
Maria shook her head desperately. “Xavier, please… I’ve worked for you for years. I’ve been loyal—”
“Get out,” he said quietly.
“What?”
“Leave,” he repeated.
Maria looked at Leah, tears spilling down her face. “You believe me, don’t you?”
Leah looked at her… then looked away.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
Maria’s face crumbled.
She grabbed her bag and ran out.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Leah sat down, trembling. “Xavier… what if this is just the beginning?”
He nodded slowly. “Then we fight. Together.”
But outside, hidden behind a car, someone was filming everything with a zoom lens.
They had just what they needed to bring Xavier—and Leah—down completely.
- Writer
