Chapter 5 - The Husband Who Arrived Too Early|
Morgan's first instinct was to run.
Her second was to demand an explanation.
She chose neither.
Instead, she stepped behind the stone pillar and watched Julian approach Eleanor.
He looked furious.
“I told you to stay away from my wife.”
Eleanor did not move.
“You should have listened when I told you to stay away from Clara's property.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“You think a retired bookkeeper can stop this?”
“No,” Eleanor said. “I think the evidence can.”
Julian glanced toward the conservatory.
Morgan held her breath.
He had not seen her yet.
“Where is the necklace?” he demanded.
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
“Why does it matter?”
“Because she was supposed to wear it.”
“And if she did?”
Julian lowered his voice.
“Then everyone would have had what they needed.”
Morgan felt a cold wave move through her body.
Eleanor's expression hardened.
“You were willing to do this to your own wife?”
“I was willing to save myself.”
The words were quiet, but Morgan heard them clearly.
Julian had accumulated debts through his failed ventures. He owed money to several private lenders and had borrowed against assets he did not own. Gregory Vance had offered him a way out: persuade Morgan to sell the cottage, receive a substantial payment, and use the money to clear his debts.
But the necklace was part of a larger scheme.
The device was intended to monitor Morgan's conversations and movements. If she consulted an attorney or contacted authorities, the information would reach Vance before she could act.
Julian had not simply purchased a gift.
He had delivered a surveillance device to his own wife.
Eleanor took a step back.
“You can still stop this.”
Julian shook his head.
“It's too late.”
He opened the second velvet box.
Inside was another gold necklace.
“This one is genuine,” he said. “The first was a prototype.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“You gave her a test device?”
“Vance wanted to know whether the design worked.”
Morgan felt her knees weaken.
The necklace had never been intended as a romantic gift.
She had been the experiment.
Julian suddenly turned toward the pillar.
“Morgan?”
She stepped into view.
His face changed.
For a moment, he looked like the man who had once carried her home through a snowstorm when her car broke down. Then his expression closed.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.”
“Morgan, listen—”
“No.”
She raised her phone.
“I heard you say you were willing to save yourself.”
His eyes moved to the device in her hand.
“Did you record that?”
“Yes.”
It was a lie. She had not started recording until she stepped out, but Julian did not know that.
He lunged toward her.
Eleanor shouted.
Morgan stumbled backward, striking her shoulder against the pillar. Julian caught her wrist, his grip painfully tight.
“Give me the phone.”
“Let go!”
“You don't understand what you're dealing with.”
“I understand perfectly!”
He released her suddenly and stepped away, breathing hard.
For several seconds, he looked genuinely frightened.
Then he began to cry.
“I didn't want this to happen.”
Morgan stared at him.
“You arranged it.”
“I was desperate.”
“You lied to me for two years.”
“I can explain.”
“You gave me a necklace with a tracking device.”
“I thought it would be harmless.”
“You thought it would be harmless to spy on your wife?”
Julian had no answer.
Eleanor quietly moved toward the exit.
Morgan noticed a small red light blinking beneath the SUV's side mirror.
A second camera.
Someone else was watching.
She grabbed Eleanor's hand.
“We need to leave.”
They hurried toward the path, but a second vehicle blocked the road.
Gregory Vance stepped out, smiling as though he had arrived for a pleasant business meeting.
“Mrs. Hayes,” he said. “I believe you have something that belongs to me.”
He looked directly at the envelope in her hand.
“The property map.”
May you like
Then he smiled at Julian.
“And you were supposed to bring your wife home.”
