Chapter 9 - The Husband Who Wanted to Be Forgiven|
Julian arrived at Denise's apartment the following afternoon.
Patricia had advised Morgan not to meet him alone, so Denise stood beside the door while Morgan remained in the living room.
Julian looked terrible.
His shirt was wrinkled, his eyes were red, and his hair had not been combed. He carried a thick folder under one arm.
“I brought the documents,” he said.
Morgan did not invite him to sit.
“Put them on the table.”
He obeyed.
The folder contained loan applications, emails, bank statements, and a series of agreements with Northstar Development Group.
Morgan began reading.
The earliest document was dated four months before their wedding.
It showed that Julian had contacted Gregory Vance about financing a small import business. Vance had agreed to provide capital in exchange for a percentage of future profits.
The business failed.
The next agreement concerned an online auto-parts company.
That failed, too.
By the third venture, Julian owed Vance a substantial amount of money.
Then came the document that changed everything.
It was a memorandum discussing Morgan's inheritance.
Potential asset: Door County property. Owner: Morgan Hayes. Estimated market value: $450,000–$520,000. Relationship status: Engaged to Julian Hayes.
Morgan felt her fingers go numb.
The memorandum had been prepared before their wedding.
She looked up.
“Did you know about this?”
Julian lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“Did you marry me because of the cottage?”
“No.”
“Then why was my name in a business memorandum before we were married?”
“Because Vance knew Clara intended to leave it to you.”
“And you knew?”
“Yes.”
Morgan stared at him.
He rushed to explain.
“I loved you. I still love you. I thought I could make enough money to pay off the debts before anyone asked you to sell the property.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“You kept borrowing.”
“Yes.”
“You kept lying.”
He nodded.
“And then you put a surveillance device in a necklace.”
Julian's face crumpled.
“I didn't know exactly what it did.”
“You didn't ask?”
“They said it was only a location tracker.”
“Then why were you afraid when I mentioned the capsule?”
He looked away.
“Because I knew the necklace had been modified.”
Morgan sat down.
For several seconds, the room was silent.
“Was anything real?” she asked.
Julian knelt in front of her.
“Our marriage was real. My feelings were real.”
“Then why did you keep choosing money over me?”
“I was ashamed.”
“Shame doesn't make you do this. Choices do.”
He reached for her hand.
She pulled it away.
“Don't.”
He lowered his head.
“I know I've ruined everything.”
“You haven't ruined everything. You have endangered my property, compromised my identity, and made me question seven years of my life.”
“I can fix it.”
“No, Julian. You can tell the truth.”
He opened the folder and handed her a printed email.
It was from Gregory Vance.
The final offer must be signed by the owner. If she refuses, activate the alternative plan. The necklace should provide enough information to prevent any surprises.
Morgan read the message twice.
“What does 'alternative plan' mean?”
Julian's face turned pale.
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I swear I don't know.”
Denise stepped forward.
“You should leave.”
Julian stood slowly.
Before he reached the door, Morgan spoke.
“One more question.”
He turned.
“Did you ever plan to tell me the truth?”
Julian opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
His silence answered her.
After he left, Morgan sat motionless.
She had once believed that the hardest thing about marriage was learning to forgive another person's mistakes.
Now she understood that forgiveness could not be built on a foundation of lies.
Patricia reviewed the documents that evening.
“The emails are useful,” she said. “But the phrase 'alternative plan' concerns me. We need to determine what it means.”
Morgan stared at the screen.
A new message appeared from an unknown sender.
It contained a photograph of the Door County cottage.
May you like
The caption read:
THE OFFER EXPIRES IN FORTY-EIGHT HOURS. AFTER THAT, WE STOP ASKING.
