Chapter 5 - The Name in the Ledger
Nebula stared at the page.
Matteo's name appeared beside a payment.
Amount: $5,000,000.
Recipient: Victor Vargas.
She looked at him.
“What is this?”
He said nothing.
“Were you working with my uncle?”
“No.”
“Then why is your name here?”
Matteo took the ledger.
His eyes moved across the page.
“This was forged.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I never received this money.”
“Maybe you don't remember.”
His expression hardened.
“I remember every dollar I've ever moved.”
She looked at the page.
Then at him.
For the first time since the wedding, doubt entered her mind.
Matteo saw it.
He didn't blame her.
“Believe what you need to.”
She hated that answer.
“I want the truth.”
“You'll have it.”
They returned to the safe house.
The ledger was examined by forensic accountants.
Two entries had been altered.
Matteo's name.
And Nebula's father's.
The original pages had been replaced.
Someone wanted them to believe they had betrayed each other.
Marco found the replacement paper came from a printer owned by Richard's architectural firm.
Nebula's stomach turned.
Richard had been part of the conspiracy from the beginning.
But then they discovered something worse.
The forged pages had been inserted recently.
After Richard married her.
Which meant someone wanted Nebula and Matteo to distrust each other now.
Why?
Because there was another player.
A person who needed them divided.
Chloe.
Nebula refused to believe it.
Her sister had confessed to helping Richard under threat.
But a new bank transfer appeared.
Chloe had received money two weeks earlier.
From Gabriel Sloan.
She confronted her.
Chloe burst into tears.
“I didn't know.”
“Didn't know what?”
“That they were going to hurt you.”
“You knew they were planning something.”
“Yes.”
“Then why keep quiet?”
“Because they had my husband.”
Nebula froze.
“What?”
Chloe revealed the truth.
Her husband hadn't been the charming architect everyone thought.
He was a federal informant working undercover inside Gabriel's organization.
Richard had discovered him.
He threatened to kill him.
Chloe had been forced to help.
“But you could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“The night you married Richard.”
Nebula remembered.
Chloe had pulled her aside.
Told her:
“Don't sign anything.”
Nebula had thought she was nervous.
She hadn't understood.
Now it all made sense.
Chloe hadn't betrayed her.
She had been trying to save her.
Nebula hugged her.
“I should have listened.”
“I should have been braver.”
“You don't have to be brave alone.”
That evening, Matteo returned from a meeting.
He looked exhausted.
Nebula approached him.
“I believe you.”
He stopped.
“Thank you.”
“You were framed.”
“I know.”
“I should have known.”
“You were given a reason to doubt me.”
She shook her head.
“Not enough.”
He smiled faintly.
“You're stubborn.”
“I learned from you.”
He laughed.
Then he pulled her close.
She rested her head against his chest.
“I left because I was afraid.”
“I know.”
“I thought normal was safer.”
“It can be.”
“It wasn't.”
“No.”
She looked up.
“Did you ever stop loving me?”
He stared at her.
“No.”
One word.
That was all she needed.
They kissed.
But the moment was interrupted by Marco.
“Boss.”
Matteo turned.
“We found Victor's location.”
“Where?”
“The Vargas estate.”
Nebula froze.
“He's coming back.”
Matteo nodded.
“For the last piece.”
“What piece?”
Marco opened a folder.
“Your father's final letter.”
Nebula's heart pounded.
“Where is it?”
“We don't know.”
A second man entered.
He carried an envelope.
He handed it to Matteo.
“Found this in the estate.”
Matteo opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Nebula recognized her father's handwriting.
To my daughter,
If you're reading this, then Victor has failed.
But the final truth is not in the ledger.
It is in the woman you trust most.
Beneath the letter was one sentence.
CHLOE KNOWS WHERE I BURIED IT.
Nebula looked at her sister.
Chloe went pale.
“I don't.”
Matteo looked between them.
Then another sound came from outside.
A vehicle.
Then another.
May you like
Marco drew his weapon.
“They're here.”
