Chapter 6 - MARK'S LAST SECRET
Mark was waiting in a hotel suite downtown.
When I walked in, he stood immediately.
“Elena.”
I didn't answer.
I placed the ledger on the table.
His eyes went straight to it.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“I was afraid you would.”
“You knew about Crown Harbor.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Amelia.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Chloe was investigating you.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew Theresa forged my signature.”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
I slapped him.
The sound echoed through the room.
Mark didn't move.
“You let me believe I was crazy.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you were cheating because I wasn't enough.”
“I know.”
“You stole from my restaurant.”
“I know.”
“You tried to take ownership.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
I laughed.
“By destroying me?”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
Mark sat down.
“My father left me nothing.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Not legally.”
“Then what?”
“A warning.”
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a letter.
From his father.
Mark handed it to me.
I read it.
The letter said Crown Harbor had become dangerous.
That people inside the company were laundering money.
That Amelia had been hidden to protect her.
And that if anything happened to him, Mark should never touch Crown Harbor.
I looked up.
“Then why did you?”
“Because they came for me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“They threatened to kill you.”
My breath stopped.
“What?”
“They knew about Aura.”
“How?”
“Because of the ledger.”
“What does the ledger contain?”
“Enough to destroy them.”
“Who are they?”
Mark looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Government contractors.”
Daniel stiffened.
“Are you saying this involves federal contracts?”
Mark nodded.
“Crown Harbor was used to move money through shell companies.”
“Who benefited?”
“Politicians.”
Daniel immediately said,
“Careful.”
Mark raised his hands.
“I'm not naming anyone.”
I looked at him.
“Then why were you stealing?”
“Because I was trying to create leverage.”
“With $37 million?”
“That money wasn't mine.”
“Whose was it?”
“Insurance.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Money I moved into accounts they couldn't reach.”
“You stole it.”
“I hid it.”
“You hid $37 million?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
He looked at me.
“I don't know.”
“What?”
“Chloe moved it.”
My stomach tightened.
“Chloe?”
“She took the accounts.”
“Then why does she want the ledger?”
“Because she doesn't have the complete record.”
I thought about the ledger.
“So everyone wants it.”
Mark nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
He hesitated.
“Because your name appears in it.”
I stared at him.
“I already saw that.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“Your name doesn't appear as a payment recipient.”
He looked terrified.
“Your name appears as an owner.”
Silence.
“What?”
Mark whispered,
“You are listed as one of the original beneficiaries of Crown Harbor.”
I couldn't breathe.
“That isn't possible.”
“It is.”
“I'm not Amelia.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Mark looked at Daniel.
“Because there were two children.”
Daniel froze.
“Two?”
Mark nodded.
“Amelia wasn't the only daughter.”
I felt the room spinning.
“Who was the other?”
Mark looked directly at me.
“You.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“Elena…”
“No.”
“I've never met your father.”
“You don't remember him.”
“I know my parents.”
“Do you?”
I stared at him.
Mark's voice broke.
“Your mother wasn't your biological mother.”
Silence.
I couldn't hear anything.
The hotel room disappeared.
All I could hear was my own heartbeat.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
I turned toward Daniel.
He looked shaken.
“Tell me this isn't true.”
He didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
It was the hospital where I was born.
He answered.
“Hello?”
His face changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Elena…”
“What?”
“They found your original birth record.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
“At St. Mary's.”
“What's on it?”
He swallowed.
“Your biological mother's name.”
I whispered,
“Who?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Theresa.”
The room went silent.
I couldn't breathe.
Mark stood.
“I'm sorry.”
I stared at him.
“My mother-in-law is my mother?”
He nodded.
And before I could react, the hotel window shattered.
A bullet struck the wall behind me.
Mark tackled me to the floor.
Daniel screamed,
“DOWN!”
Another shot.
Then another.
Mark pulled me behind the sofa.
His face was inches from mine.
“Elena…”
“What?”
“Now you know why I married you.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“To keep you close.”
My blood ran cold.
“But not for the reason you think.”
May you like
He whispered,
“To keep them from finding you.”
