Chapter 3 - My Husband Was Never the Real Enemy
Jenna didn't return home.
Instead, Alexander took her and Paisley to a secure residence.
For the first time in years, Jenna slept without listening for Alan's footsteps.
But sleep didn't last.
At six in the morning, Thomas arrived with new information.
“Ashley uploaded the video.”
Jenna looked at him.
“How many views?”
“Four million.”
Jenna's stomach tightened.
The video had gone viral.
Thousands of strangers were calling Alan abusive.
Others were attacking Jenna for supposedly provoking him.
Ashley had edited the footage.
She removed the part where Alan grabbed Jenna.
She removed the moment Holly insulted her.
She left only the cake incident.
Making Jenna look responsible.
Alexander watched the video.
“Who uploaded the original?”
“Ashley.”
“Then find the raw file.”
Thomas nodded.
An hour later, they had it.
The full recording showed everything.
Including a conversation between Holly and Ashley.
Ashley asked:
“What if she finds out?”
Holly replied:
“She won't.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What about the ring?”
“She doesn't even know what it is.”
Jenna froze.
“What ring?”
Alexander stopped the video.
“The recording isn't just about the cake.”
They continued.
Holly said:
“Once Alan gets the property transfer signed, the ring won't matter anymore.”
Ashley asked:
“What about Whitfield?”
Holly became silent.
Then she said:
“He doesn't know she's the beneficiary.”
Alexander's face hardened.
Jenna looked at him.
“They know about you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was investigating your mother's death.”
Jenna looked down.
Alexander explained that Eleanor Carter had hired him shortly before her death.
She believed someone was stealing from the family trust.
She had discovered forged documents.
Shell companies.
Hidden accounts.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
Victor Gable.
Alan's father.
Eleanor planned to expose him.
Three days later, she died.
Alexander believed Victor arranged her death.
But he never had enough evidence.
Until now.
Jenna looked at the screen.
“Then why did Alan marry me?”
Alexander answered:
“Because he was told to.”
She stared.
“You mean…”
“Alan was selected because he could get close to you.”
Jenna felt physically sick.
“Was anything real?”
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
“I don't know.”
That hurt more than she expected.
She remembered Alan's first date.
The flowers.
The promises.
The way he held her hand.
The birth of Paisley.
Had all of it been a lie?
Then another video appeared.
It showed Alan meeting Holly.
He looked nervous.
“I don't want to do this anymore.”
Holly slapped him.
“You don't have a choice.”
“I love Jenna.”
“Love doesn't pay your debts.”
“What if I refuse?”
Holly leaned closer.
“Then she dies just like her mother.”
Jenna covered her mouth.
Alexander paused the recording.
She couldn't breathe.
Alan had been trapped.
But he had still chosen to hurt her.
He had still betrayed her.
Alexander looked at Jenna.
“You don't have to forgive him.”
“I won't.”
“But you should know something.”
“What?”
“He wasn't supposed to hurt you at the party.”
Jenna stared.
“What was he supposed to do?”
“Get you angry enough to leave.”
“Why?”
“So you'd take the ring with you.”
Jenna's face changed.
“What?”
Alexander nodded.
“They wanted you to leave the house.”
“Why?”
“Because there is something hidden inside it.”
They returned to Jenna's home with federal investigators.
The security footage showed no one entering after Jenna left.
They searched every room.
Nothing.
Then Paisley ran into her old bedroom.
“Mommy!”
Jenna followed.
Paisley pointed beneath her bed.
“My doll is broken.”
Jenna lifted the doll.
Inside was a tiny metal key.
Alexander stared.
“That's it.”
“What?”
“The key to your mother's safe.”
Jenna's hands shook.
“Where is the safe?”
Alexander looked toward the wall.
“Probably somewhere Alan never knew existed.”
They searched the house.
Finally, behind a painting in the hallway, they found a hidden compartment.
Inside was a safe.
The key fit.
Jenna opened it.
There were documents.
Photographs.
A passport.
And a handwritten letter.
She recognized her mother's handwriting immediately.
The letter began:
Jenna, if you're reading this, then the man you married has already betrayed you.
Jenna's heart stopped.
But the next sentence was even worse.
And if Alan has a daughter, protect her at all costs.
Jenna looked at Paisley.
May you like
Why?
What did her four-year-old daughter have to do with any of this?
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