Chapter 9 - The Man in My Bedroom
Police entered my townhouse at 6:14 p.m.
Thomas Voss was gone.
The second intruder escaped through the rear alley.
But not before Nolan’s security team captured his face.
Richard Hale.
Derek’s father had personally entered my bedroom.
The bedroom where his son had slept beside me.
The bedroom where Derek had once told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life waking up next to me.
They tore open drawers.
Removed wall panels.
Cut into the mattress.
Destroyed my closet.
They were desperate.
I stood in the doorway after investigators finished.
My wedding dress remained untouched inside its garment bag.
Everything else looked violated.
Nolan watched me from the hall.
“We can move you.”
“No.”
“Emily.”
“I’m not leaving my own house because of them.”
“They’ve entered twice.”
“Then increase security.”
He studied me.
Then nodded.
Derek arrived thirty minutes later.
He played his role beautifully.
He rushed through the door.
Saw the damage.
Grabbed me.
“What happened?”
I let him hold me.
That was harder than watching him kiss Clara.
Because my body still remembered him as safe.
His cologne.
His warmth.
The exact way his hand settled between my shoulder blades.
For one dangerous second, four years of love fought against twenty-four hours of truth.
Then I remembered the forged signature.
I stepped back.
“Someone broke in.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“No.”
“Thank God.”
He turned toward Nolan.
“You were supposed to be with her.”
Nolan’s expression was unreadable.
“I was.”
“Then how did this happen?”
“Interesting question.”
Derek’s eyes sharpened.
I stepped between them.
“Please.”
He immediately softened.
“For you.”
I almost admired the performance.
Then Clara appeared behind him.
I had not known she would come.
She looked terrible.
Pale.
Tired.
Her eyes met mine.
Something passed between us.
Fear.
Shame.
Maybe a warning.
She hugged me.
I forced my arms around her.
“I’m so sorry.”
Her voice broke against my shoulder.
“I should have been here.”
“You were with your mom.”
She stiffened.
“Yes.”
Behind her, Derek watched us.
Clara pulled away.
Her eyes were wet.
For one second, I thought she might confess.
Then Derek said.
“Clara, give Emily some space.”
She obeyed immediately.
Interesting.
Later, while Derek spoke to police, Clara followed me into the kitchen.
We were alone for less than thirty seconds.
She whispered.
“You found the dress?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes closed.
“Thank God.”
“Why did you kiss him at the airport?”
Pain crossed her face.
“Because I love him.”
The honesty stunned me.
“You love the man who is helping steal from me?”
“Yes.”
“At least you finally stopped lying.”
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve much worse.”
“I know.”
I heard footsteps.
Clara grabbed my wrist.
“Richard knows Nolan found Northstar.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you tell him?”
“No.”
“Does Derek know?”
“I don’t think so.”
The footsteps came closer.
Clara whispered.
“Don’t trust Derek when he turns on his father.”
Then Nolan entered.
Clara released me.
He looked between us.
No one spoke.
That night, Derek refused to leave.
He slept in the guest room because I claimed I was shaken by the burglary.
At 2:00 a.m., I was still awake.
My phone illuminated.
Unknown number.
A video.
Live.
Richard Hale sat in a dark room.
Behind him stood Thomas Voss.
Richard smiled at the camera.
“Hello, Emily.”
My blood froze.
“If you are seeing this, Nolan has discovered more than I expected.”
He leaned closer.
“But before your brother convinces you he is your savior, ask him one question.”
I swallowed.
Richard smiled wider.
“Ask Nolan why he received five million dollars from my company three days after your father died.”
The video ended.
I sat motionless.
Then I opened Northstar.
Searched Nolan’s name.
One transaction appeared.
Five million dollars.
Hale Strategic Partners.
Three days after Dad’s death.
Recipient:
May you like
Nolan Bennett.
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