Chapter 6 - THE WIFE HE THOUGHT HE BURIEDMarcus couldn't move.
For three years, he had visited Elena's grave.
Three years of flowers.
Three years of silence.
Three years of believing the person he loved most was gone.
And now she was standing five feet away.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
“Elena?”
She nodded.
Tears streamed down her face.
Marcus took one step.
Then another.
He stopped before touching her.
Almost afraid she would disappear.
“Is this real?”
Elena smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he whispered:
“Why?”
Elena looked down.
“Because they threatened you.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“Who?”
She looked toward Daniel.
“Not just him.”
Daniel looked away.
Elena continued.
“I found the money transfers.”
Marcus nodded.
“I know.”
“They discovered that I knew.”
“Who?”
Elena took a breath.
“The board.”
Marcus stared.
“Everyone?”
“Not everyone.”
She pointed toward one man.
A board member named Samuel Brooks.
He stood slowly.
“Elena…”
She shook her head.
“You told them I was unstable.”
Samuel said nothing.
“You told them I was stealing from the foundation.”
Marcus looked at him.
Samuel's face was pale.
Elena continued.
“They threatened to destroy Marcus's reputation.”
Marcus clenched his fists.
“And you?”
“They threatened to kill you.”
The room became silent.
Marcus stared at Elena.
“You disappeared to protect me.”
She nodded.
“I was told that if I stayed, they would frame you for everything.”
Marcus's voice cracked.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried.”
Elena looked at Daniel.
“He intercepted my messages.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Marcus turned toward him.
“You knew she was alive.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel's eyes filled with shame.
“Because I was afraid.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You were afraid of them?”
Daniel nodded.
“They controlled everything.”
“Then why did you participate?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“Because I convinced myself I could control it.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You betrayed me.”
“I know.”
“You betrayed Elena.”
“I know.”
“You stole from my employees.”
Daniel said nothing.
Marcus turned away.
Elena reached for his hand.
Marcus finally took it.
He held it tightly.
Neither of them spoke.
For the first time in years, Marcus felt something other than grief.
Hope.
But the moment was interrupted by a phone ringing.
One of the board members answered.
His expression changed.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Richard is gone.”
Marcus frowned.
“What?”
“He left the building.”
Thomas immediately checked his phone.
“There's more.”
Marcus looked at him.
Thomas showed him a message.
THE ORIGINAL FILES ARE MISSING.
Marcus understood.
Someone had taken the evidence.
Elena's face became frightened.
“They know I'm here.”
Marcus turned.
“Who?”
She whispered:
“The person behind everything.”
Marcus looked around the room.
“Who?”
Elena stared at Samuel.
“No.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Don't.”
Elena pointed at him.
“Samuel wasn't the leader.”
Everyone turned.
“Then who was?”
Elena looked toward Evelyn.
Marcus's heart sank.
Evelyn stood silently.
Elena whispered:
“Evelyn.”
Marcus looked at the woman he had trusted for fifteen years.
“No.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I never wanted it to go this far.”
Marcus stared.
“You were behind the money?”
Evelyn began crying.
“I started it.”
The room exploded.
Marcus couldn't believe it.
“You?”
Evelyn nodded.
“I created the foundation accounts.”
“Why?”
“To save the company.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“You stole millions to save it?”
“The company was drowning.”
“So you stole from employees?”
“I thought I could fix it.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You became the thing you claimed to hate.”
Evelyn looked at Elena.
“She found out.”
“And you threatened her.”
“Yes.”
Marcus's voice became cold.
“You let me believe my wife was dead.”
Evelyn cried.
“I was afraid.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“You don't get to use fear as an excuse.”
Then Evelyn whispered something nobody expected.
“I wasn't the only one.”
Marcus stopped.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at the boardroom door.
“The person who ordered everything is still outside this room.”
Everyone turned.
The door opened.
A man entered.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
His father-in-law.
May you like
Elena's father.
And he was holding a gun.
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