Chapter 4: The Name on the Hidden Documents
Marcus didn’t move.
Neither did I.
The phone screen went dark, but the words stayed burned into my mind.
*I know what you did with your wife’s identity. If she finds out the rest, you’re finished.*
My fingers felt cold.
“Who is Daniel Whitmore?”” I asked.
Marcus looked at the phone in his hand like it had betrayed him.
“Nia…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t get to pause anymore. You don’t get to think about what version of the truth sounds better.””
His jaw tightened.
“I can explain.””
I laughed softly.
That sentence had become his favorite weapon.
“I’m starting to think you only know three words.””
Marcus looked hurt.
But I didn’t care.
Not anymore.
A few months ago, his sadness would have destroyed me.
Now, it just made me wonder if it was another performance.
“Daniel was someone I knew from work,” Marcus finally said.
“Someone?””
“Yes.””
“What does he know?””
Marcus looked at Ava.
Then back at me.
“It’s complicated.””
Ava immediately shook her head.
“Every time someone says that, it means they’re about to admit something worse.””
Marcus ignored her.
“Nia, I need you to trust me.””
The anger inside me almost made me laugh.
Trust.
That word sounded ridiculous coming from him.
“You erased me from your life.””
“I didn’t erase you.””
“You told another woman I was dead.””
His face fell.
“And now someone is threatening you because of what you did with my identity.””
Marcus looked away.
That was enough.
I didn’t need a confession.
I needed proof.
“Where are the documents?””
He froze.
“What?””
“The documents Lauren mentioned.””
His silence answered for him.
“Where are they, Marcus?””
“I don’t have them anymore.””
“Convenient.””
“It’s the truth.””
“Then show me.””
He stared at me.
I could see the argument happening in his head.
Part of him wanted to keep lying.
Another part knew the walls were closing in.
Finally, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his wallet.
From behind his driver’s license, he removed a small folded piece of paper.
Ava stepped closer.
“What is that?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
I took it from his hand.
At first, it looked like a simple photocopy.
Then I saw my name.
My full legal name.
My birthday.
My address.
And underneath it…
A line that made my stomach turn.
*Spouse Status: Deceased.*
I stared at the page.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.
“You made this?””
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Then what is it?””
“It was for insurance paperwork.””
I looked up.
“What?””
He ran his hand through his hair.
“I was trying to change information for a financial account.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He sighed.
“There was an issue with a beneficiary form.””
I stared at him.
“You listed me as dead?””
“No. I didn’t create it.””
“Then who did?””
Marcus didn’t respond.
And suddenly, the silence felt familiar.
The same silence from the office.
The same silence when Lauren said she believed he was single.
The same silence when I asked why.
“You know who did this,” I said.
Marcus looked at the ground.
“Nia…”
“Who?””
His voice dropped.
“Daniel.””
Ava frowned.
“Why would someone from your work create fake documents about your wife?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Because the answer was worse than the question.
I looked at him.
“You weren’t cheating with Lauren because you wanted a new life.””
Marcus looked up.
I continued.
“You were building one.””
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
A terrifying thought entered my mind.
“Was Lauren the only person you lied to?””
Marcus said nothing.
And that silence hurt more than any confession.
I walked away from the porch.
“Nia, wait.””
I turned around.
“What else don’t I know?””
He looked desperate.
“I swear I never wanted to hurt you.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
A car pulled up in front of Ava’s house.
None of us recognized it.
A tall man stepped out wearing a dark coat.
He looked around before walking toward us.
Marcus immediately went pale.
“Daniel.””
The man stopped several feet away.
His eyes moved to me.
Then to Marcus.
“I told you this would happen.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Daniel ignored him.
He looked at me.
“You’re Nia Bennett?””
My stomach tightened.
“Yes.””
He reached into his briefcase.
“I think you need to see something your husband has been hiding for a long time.””
Marcus’s voice became sharp.
“Don’t.””
Daniel opened the folder.
And the first page inside had a photograph attached.
A photograph of me.
But the date printed beneath it was from two years before I met Marcus.
Daniel looked at me.
“The woman you think you married…”
May you like
He paused.
“She was never the only person whose identity he changed.””
