Chapter 2 - THE MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD
Vanessa recovered first.
“This is insane.”
Marcus didn’t answer.
He read the note again.
Then again.
Leo stood beside him, confused.
“What does it say?”
Marcus folded the paper.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Vanessa laughed sharply.
“Oh, please. Don’t start protecting him now.”
Marcus’s head lifted.
“Now?”
Vanessa realized her mistake.
Clara saw it immediately.
So did Marcus.
He walked closer.
“What does ‘now’ mean?”
“Nothing.”
“You said I’m protecting him now.”
“I’m upset.”
“You’ve been upset all evening. You still know how words work.”
Vanessa looked toward the guests.
“This is humiliating.”
Marcus turned.
“Everyone out.”
A hundred people stared at him.
“The event is over. Go home.”
The mansion emptied fast.
Within minutes, music died, staff disappeared into the kitchen, and luxury cars began rolling down the circular driveway.
Clara bent to pick up the broken glasses.
Marcus stopped her.
“Not you.”
She straightened.
“Mr. Blackwood, I really should—”
“You witnessed what happened.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“She’s a waitress, Marcus.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Say that one more time like it makes her less human.”
Vanessa closed her mouth.
Marcus led them into his study.
Leo stayed pressed to his father’s side.
Clara stood near the door, suddenly aware that she did not belong in a room filled with walnut shelves, antique maps, leather chairs, and paintings worth more than her apartment building.
Marcus opened the paper.
“Leo, did your mother ever show you this?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you what was inside the ring?”
“She said I’d know when I needed it.”
Marcus turned the paper around.
Clara read the message.
MARCUS — IF YOU FIND THIS, I FAILED. DO NOT TRUST VANESSA. CHECK THE HOUSE ON HARBOR ROAD. — ELENA
Clara looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa didn’t blink.
“That proves nothing.”
Marcus stared at her.
“It’s Elena’s handwriting.”
“Or a copy.”
“It’s hers.”
“You want it to be hers.”
Marcus stepped around the desk.
“My wife wrote a warning about you before she died.”
“Your wife hated me.”
“You told me you barely knew her.”
Vanessa paused.
Clara felt the room tighten.
Marcus repeated, “You said you met Elena twice.”
“I did.”
“Then why would she hate you?”
Vanessa’s voice became softer.
“Because she was paranoid near the end.”
Leo flinched.
Marcus’s expression went cold.
“My wife had cancer. She was not paranoid.”
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus suddenly grabbed his phone.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Harbor Road.”
“At midnight?”
“Yes.”
“That house hasn’t been used in years.”
Marcus stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Clara felt the hair rise on her arms.
Marcus turned slowly.
“How do you know there’s a house there?”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
“I… heard you mention it.”
“No.”
“You must have.”
“I haven’t talked about Harbor Road since before Elena died.”
Vanessa moved toward him.
“Marcus, listen to me.”
He stepped back.
“Security!”
One guard entered.
Marcus pointed at Vanessa.
“Take her phone.”
“What?”
“Marcus, you cannot be serious.”
“And keep her here.”
“You’re holding me prisoner now?”
“No. You’re free to leave.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Good.”
“But if you walk out that door, our engagement is over.”
Her expression cracked.
Clara blinked.
Engagement?
She looked at Vanessa’s left hand.
A huge diamond sparkled there.
Marcus continued.
“And tomorrow morning, every company account you can access gets frozen until my lawyers complete an audit.”
Vanessa’s face changed completely.
Now Clara understood.
This wasn’t just romance.
There was money.
A lot of money.
“You’d destroy our future over a piece of paper?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No. I’d destroy it over my son telling me you hurt him.”
Vanessa stared at Leo with open hatred.
Marcus saw it.
“So help me God,” he said quietly, “if you look at my son like that again—”
A loud crash came from the hallway.
Everyone turned.
The lights went out.
Leo screamed.
Clara heard footsteps.
Fast footsteps.
Then someone slammed into her.
She fell hard.
A hand grabbed at Leo.
“Dad!”
Marcus shouted.
Glass broke.
A door slammed.
Emergency lights flashed red.
Clara pushed herself up.
Leo was gone.
“LEO!”
Marcus ran into the hall.
They reached the foyer.
The front door stood open.
Rain poured inside.
A black SUV was racing away from the house.
Marcus sprinted toward the driveway.
Clara ran behind him.
Then Marcus stopped.
Something lay on the wet stone.
A gold chain.
Broken in half.
The ring was gone.
May you like
And so was Leo.
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