Chapter 12: The Enemy Who Knew Too Much
The room went silent after Marcus said her name.
Renata.
The woman who had almost become part of our family.
The woman who had stood beside him in front of the chapel.
The woman who had smiled while asking about his inheritance.
Evelyn slowly nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus stared at her.
“How?””
“Because she contacted me.””
My heart dropped.
“When?””
“Months before your wedding.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Why would she contact you?””
Evelyn’s expression hardened.
“She wanted information.””
“About what?””
“About Walter.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Evelyn slid a document across the table.
“You should read this.””
Marcus picked it up.
It was an email.
From Renata.
The message was polite.
Professional.
Almost friendly.
But the words underneath were terrifying.
I understand you had a previous relationship with Walter Hale regarding Hale Enterprises. I believe there may be unresolved matters that could affect his son’s future.
Marcus looked up.
“She was investigating you.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Evelyn answered quietly.
“Because she knew Walter had secrets.””
I stood.
“She was planning this before the wedding.””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Yes.””
Marcus kept reading.
There were multiple messages.
Requests.
Questions.
Attempts to arrange meetings.
Then he found something worse.
A payment record.
From a private account.
To an investigation firm.
Paid by Renata.
Marcus’s hands tightened.
“She hired people to investigate my father?””
“Yes.””
“For the inheritance?””
Evelyn nodded.
“But not only that.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What else?””
Evelyn took a breath.
“She believed Walter’s original business partner had a claim that could challenge the entire estate.””
Marcus understood.
“She was afraid.””
“Yes.””
“Because if the truth came out, she couldn’t control everything.””
“Exactly.””
The anger on Marcus’s face was different now.
Before, he was hurt.
Now, he was awake.
“I almost married someone who saw me as a transaction.””
Nobody answered.
Because there was nothing to say.
When we left Evelyn’s house, Marcus sat in the car silently.
The drive home felt endless.
Finally, he spoke.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For being so blind.””
I turned toward the window.
“Marcus, everyone wants to believe the people they love are honest.””
He nodded.
“But I ignored you.””
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised him.
I continued.
“That hurt.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
“But you’re here now.””
He looked at me.
“Can you forgive me?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because forgiveness wasn’t a switch.
It was a road.
“I can try.””
He nodded.
That was enough.
But before we reached home, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Marcus answered.
“Hello?””
A voice came through.
A voice we both recognized.
Renata.
“Marcus, we need to talk.””
He didn’t respond.
She continued.
“I know you met Evelyn.””
His grip tightened around the phone.
“How do you know that?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because I’ve been watching.””
A chill went through me.
Marcus’s voice became colder.
“Watching what?””
“Everything.””
He looked at me.
Renata continued.
“You think you discovered the truth.””
She laughed softly.
“You didn’t.””
Marcus said nothing.
“You need to understand something. Your father wasn’t protecting you from me.””
A pause.
“He was protecting you from the truth about himself.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Renata lowered her voice.
“It means your father wasn’t the victim in this story.””
The call ended.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Then another message appeared.
A photo.
An old photograph.
Walter standing with someone.
Someone neither of us expected.
Someone who changed the entire story.
Marcus whispered:
“Mom…”
I looked at the picture.
May you like
And my blood ran cold.
Because standing beside Walter was Renata’s father.
