CHAPTER 3 – The Woman They Never Asked About
CHAPTER 3 – The Woman They Never Asked About
Adrian had spent two years learning my favorite flowers.
My coffee order.
My birthday.
The books I liked to read.
He knew every harmless detail.
Yet he had never once asked the only question that mattered.
"Who are you?"
People often mistake quietness for weakness.
I had learned long ago that silence makes arrogant people reveal everything.
Celeste paced across the bedroom.
"You planned this."
"No."
"I prepared for it."
She laughed.
"As if you expected our family."
"I expected someone."
Her smile disappeared.
Martin continued reading the notebook.
Every page made him visibly more uncomfortable.
Forty-three rules.
Each one more controlling than the last.
Each one carefully handwritten.
Each one dated weeks before the wedding.
Premeditated.
Not emotional.
Calculated.
Adrian finally spoke.
"I was protecting my assets."
I looked at him.
"You don't own people."
"They become mine after marriage."
Martin looked up sharply.
"What did you just say?"
Adrian immediately realized his mistake.
"I didn't mean—"
"I know exactly what you meant."
I walked toward the wardrobe.
Adrian stepped into my path.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting something."
"You don't touch anything."
I smiled faintly.
"You still think you're giving orders."
He reached for my wrist.
I caught his hand before it touched me.
Not aggressively.
Effortlessly.
His eyes widened again.
The confidence he had carried into this room was disappearing piece by piece.
I opened the wardrobe.
From the top shelf, I removed a sealed folder.
Neither Adrian nor Celeste recognized it.
They should have.
It had been hidden there before the wedding.
Waiting.
I placed it gently on the bed.
"Open it."
Adrian frowned.
"I'm not playing your games."
"You already have."
Martin opened the folder instead.
Inside...
Bank documents.
Corporate registrations.
Account numbers.
Every page carried one name.
Mine.
Martin looked confused.
"These companies were established three weeks ago."
"I know."
"They're registered to you."
"I know."
Adrian suddenly stepped forward.
"Give me that."
Too late.
Martin had already turned the next page.
The signatures looked like mine.
But they weren't.
Someone had forged every one of them.
May you like
Martin slowly raised his eyes toward Adrian.
"What exactly have you done?"
