Chapter 3 - My Husband Had a Secret With the Man Following Me
Marcus smiled.
“Nice to see you again.”
I couldn't move.
Mason stepped toward me.
“Lily, please listen.”
I stared at him.
“How did he get in?”
Mason swallowed.
“He said he needed to talk.”
“About what?”
Marcus answered.
“Your new employer.”
I looked at Mason.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus placed an envelope on the table.
“Open it.”
I didn't.
“Leave.”
Marcus laughed.
“You really think you can order me around?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“You've become brave.”
“No.”
I looked at the door.
“I've become tired.”
He left after a few minutes.
Mason collapsed into a chair.
“You know him.”
“I knew of him.”
“Why is he here?”
Mason rubbed his face.
“Because I owe him money.”
The room went silent.
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
My heart sank.
“For what?”
“I borrowed it after I lost my job.”
“You told me your severance was still coming.”
“It never came.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
I sat down.
“How did Marcus get involved?”
“A friend.”
“What friend?”
“I didn't know what he did.”
I looked at him.
“What does he do?”
Mason lowered his voice.
“He's involved in private security.”
“That isn't what you mean.”
“No.”
He stared at the floor.
“He collects debts.”
My stomach twisted.
“Why did he come here?”
Mason's face became pale.
“He says the debt is now fifty thousand.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Interest.”
“You signed something?”
He nodded.
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“We need to report him.”
Mason looked at me in terror.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he said if I go to the police, someone will get hurt.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
I knew.
“Me?”
He looked away.
The next morning, I went to Ethan.
I told him everything.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he stood.
“Marcus has contacted you before?”
“Only at the restaurant.”
“And now my office has surveillance logs showing him near your apartment.”
He looked furious.
“I never wanted to involve you.”
“You didn't.”
“Yes, I did.”
I shook my head.
“You were already involved.”
Ethan stared at me.
“What does that mean?”
“Your father.”
He understood.
“You think this is connected.”
“I know it is.”
He picked up his phone.
“I'm sending a car.”
“I can take the bus.”
“No.”
“Ethan.”
“Lily.”
The way he said my name stopped me.
“You are not walking around alone anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because somebody is trying to use you to reach me.”
I stared.
“Why me?”
“I don't know yet.”
His father entered the office.
“I do.”
We both turned.
The old man held a sealed envelope.
He looked at me.
“Your family knew my wife.”
I frowned.
“My family?”
“Your mother.”
I stopped breathing.
“My mother?”
He nodded.
“She worked for us.”
Ethan looked shocked.
“Dad.”
“I never told you.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother's file disappeared.”
My mind raced.
My mother had died when I was twelve.
She had worked in hotel kitchens.
That was all I knew.
The old man opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
My mother stood beside Ethan's mother.
Both were young.
Both were smiling.
I stared.
“That’s my mom.”
“I know.”
“And your wife.”
“Yes.”
“How did they know each other?”
The old man looked at Ethan.
Then back at me.
“They were friends.”
“That doesn't explain the photograph.”
“No.”
He pulled out another document.
It was an old employment record.
My mother's name appeared beside a handwritten note.
Transfer approved by E.C.
I looked at Ethan.
“Your father?”
The old man shook his head.
“My initials.”
“Ethan Calder.”
“Yes.”
My confusion deepened.
“You weren't alive enough to sign this.”
Ethan looked at the date.
His face changed.
“That was my grandfather.”
The old man nodded.
“Elias Calder.”
The same family.
The same company.
Different generation.
Different secrets.
Then the old man said something that changed everything.
“Your mother didn't die because of illness.”
My knees weakened.
“What?”
“She was killed.”
The room spun.
Ethan caught my elbow.
“Dad.”
“She was looking for something.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
“Why?”
The old man looked directly into my eyes.
“Because it contained proof that someone inside Calder Hospitality had been stealing from us for twenty years.”
I stared at him.
“Who?”
“We never found out.”
Ethan's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression went cold.
“Marcus took Mason.”
I grabbed his arm.
“What?”
“They found your husband's car abandoned.”
I felt panic rising.
“Where?”
“Near the river.”
“I have to go.”
“No.”
“My husband is missing!”
Ethan looked at me.
“We're going.”
His father stood.
“Take the old road.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
“The police will be watching the highway.”
“How do you know?”
The old man looked tired.
May you like
“Because the people who took Mason have been planning this for twenty years.”
My entire body went cold.
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