Chapter 16 - The Mistress Who Finally Understood|
Tessa called me at 11:38 that night.
I almost ignored the call.
But something about the timing made me answer.
“June?”
Her voice was shaking.
“What do you want, Tessa?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Then talk.”
“Not over the phone.”
I looked toward Nadine, who was sitting across from me reviewing Evelyn Price's documents.
“Why?”
Tessa began crying.
“Because Colin is going to destroy me.”
I closed my eyes.
For one terrible second, I remembered my first life.
Tessa standing outside my prison hospital room.
Her red lipstick.
Her camel-colored coat.
Her satisfied smile.
Now she was frightened.
And she wanted my help.
“Call your attorney,” I said.
“I did.”
“Then listen to her.”
Tessa swallowed.
“June, you don't understand.”
I almost laughed.
“No?”
“He told me the company would give me a partnership stake if I helped with some paperwork.”
My stomach tightened.
“What paperwork?”
“An agreement listing me as a minority partner in one of the consulting companies.”
I looked at Nadine.
She immediately began taking notes.
Tessa continued:
“Colin said it was just a way to protect his investment.”
“And you believed him?”
“Yes.”
I heard her crying harder.
“June, I was stupid.”
I remained silent.
Then she whispered:
“He said you'd never find out.”
Something inside me went cold.
“Find out what?”
A long pause.
“About the company.”
I waited.
“And about us.”
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The confession I'd once begged God to make unnecessary.
“How long?” I asked.
“Almost two years.”
I felt strangely calm.
Two years.
Two years of holidays.
Birthdays.
Business trips.
Late-night calls.
All of it.
“Did you know he planned to accuse me of stealing the necklace?”
Tessa didn't answer.
I felt my chest tighten.
“Tessa.”
Her voice broke.
“He said you'd only lose your job.”
Silence.
“He said the company would claim you mishandled paperwork, and then everything would go away.”
I stared at the wall.
“You knew they planned to blame me.”
“Yes.”
“And you helped.”
She began sobbing.
“I'm sorry.”
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I said:
“Sorry doesn't erase what you did.”
“I know.”
“Then tell your attorney the truth.”
Tessa swallowed.
“Will you forgive me?”
I thought about three years behind bars.
My destroyed marriage.
My lonely death.
Then I answered honestly.
“I don't know.”
She was silent.
“But I won't help Colin destroy you, either.”
The next morning, Tessa's attorney contacted Nadine.
Tessa was willing to provide documents and messages relating to the forged partnership records and Colin's instructions.
One message caught my attention.
It had been sent by Colin three weeks before our anniversary.
Make sure June accepts the necklace herself. Everything depends on that.
I stared at the words.
Then at another message.
If she refuses, find a way to make her keep it.
My hands trembled.
The entire plan had depended on my accepting the emerald.
And in my first life, I had done exactly what they wanted.
But there was one more message.
Sent by Roland Shaw.
Once the accusation is filed, make certain June's attorney controls the release forms.
My blood turned cold.
Because I finally understood why Colin had insisted on choosing my lawyer.
May you like
They hadn't merely wanted me convicted.
They wanted me to sign away something I didn't even know I owned.
