Chapter 3 - She Was Hired as His Wife, But Someone Had Chosen Her Years Ago
The truth about Thea's family grew darker with every file.
Her mother, Marianne Lindquist, had not worked in a simple Voss accounting department.
She had worked directly under Lachlan's father.
For seven years.
She had seen everything.
Secret payments.
Offshore companies.
Shell corporations.
And the transfer of funds made on the night Lachlan's father died.
Thea sat with Lachlan in the library.
“Why didn't my mother leave?”
“She tried.”
“Then why did she stay?”
“Because your father was already dead.”
Thea looked at him.
“And she was afraid.”
“Yes.”
She hated that the answer made sense.
Over the next few weeks, their marriage changed.
At first, they slept in separate rooms.
Then Lachlan began joining her at breakfast.
Then dinner.
He asked about her mother.
Her nursing classes.
Her dreams.
Thea asked about his childhood.
They discovered strange similarities.
He hated hospitals.
She hated silence.
He liked jazz.
She preferred old movies.
He read biographies.
She read romance novels and hid them inside textbooks.
One evening, he found one.
“You read this?”
She snatched it.
“Give it back.”
“What is it?”
“You wouldn't understand.”
He opened the cover.
“Two people pretend to hate each other and fall in love?”
She turned red.
“That's not what it's about.”
He smiled.
“You're embarrassed.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Your eyesight seems very good today.”
He laughed.
It was the first time she had heard him laugh freely.
The sound stayed with her.
Then one evening, he took her to the rooftop garden.
The city stretched beneath them.
“You've never been up here.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I thought it was locked.”
“It is.”
“Then why did you bring me?”
“Because I trust you.”
She looked at him.
“That's dangerous.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
The wind moved her hair.
He reached up.
Paused.
“May I?”
She nodded.
He gently moved a strand from her face.
Neither spoke.
Then Thea whispered:
“You're staring.”
“Yes.”
“How do you know where I am?”
“I know your footsteps.”
“That doesn't explain everything.”
He smiled.
“I've learned you.”
Her chest tightened.
Then he kissed her.
Slowly.
Carefully.
She kissed him back.
When they separated, Thea felt terrified.
Not of him.
Of how much she wanted more.
Then her phone rang.
Hospital.
Her mother's condition had worsened.
Thea left immediately.
Lachlan followed.
At the hospital, a doctor met them.
“We need to perform the procedure tonight.”
“Will she survive?”
“We believe so.”
Thea nodded.
She was crying.
Lachlan put his arm around her.
She leaned against him.
Hours later, her mother survived.
Thea fell asleep in a hospital chair.
Lachlan remained beside her.
When she woke, he was still there.
“You stayed.”
“Yes.”
“You didn't have to.”
“I wanted to.”
She smiled faintly.
Then her mother's eyes opened.
Marianne looked at Lachlan.
She whispered:
“Your father trusted me.”
Lachlan leaned closer.
“What did he find?”
“Your uncle.”
She reached beneath her pillow.
A key.
Old.
Brass.
She gave it to Lachlan.
“Storage facility.”
“Where?”
“Pier 18.”
His face changed.
“That building was demolished.”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“It's beneath it.”
Lachlan stared.
Marianne continued:
“He hid everything there.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Afraid of Julian?”
“No.”
She looked at Thea.
“Afraid of what would happen to my daughter.”
Thea squeezed her hand.
“Mom.”
Marianne cried.
“I never meant for you to marry him.”
Thea's heart stopped.
“What?”
Marianne looked at Lachlan.
“He was never supposed to choose you.”
Lachlan frowned.
“Who?”
“Julian.”
Silence.
“What did he want?” Lachlan asked.
Marianne's expression broke.
“Your uncle has known Thea since she was a child.”
Thea stared.
“What?”
“He met you when you were eight.”
“I don't remember.”
“He was at your father's funeral.”
Thea's breathing changed.
Lachlan noticed.
“Why?”
Marianne whispered:
“Because Julian believed your family had something he needed.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
The same ledger Lachlan's father had hidden.
“Where is it?”
Marianne looked at Thea.
“You have it.”
Thea froze.
“Where?”
“Your mother's music box.”
Thea's stomach dropped.
The music box had been at her home for fifteen years.
She had left it in storage.
Lachlan stood.
“We're going home.”
But when they reached the hospital parking lot, the car's windshield was smashed.
A message was scratched into the metal.
SOME THINGS SHOULD STAY BURIED.
Lachlan stared.
Thea reached for his hand.
He looked at her.
For the first time, fear appeared openly in his eyes.
May you like
Not for himself.
For her.
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