Chapter 8 - Jessica’s Choice
Jessica rose unsteadily from her chair.
“Mark said no one would be hurt.”
Anna looked at her.
“You slept with my husband, stole from my company, and helped him forge my name.”
“I know.”
“No, you know you were caught.”
Jessica flinched.
Mark moved toward her.
“Don’t say another word.”
For the first time that evening, Jessica looked frightened of him.
James stepped between them without touching either person.
“You don’t control her anymore.”
Mark sneered. “You still think that baby is yours?”
James’s face tightened, but his voice remained steady.
“This isn’t about my pride. It’s about what both of you did.”
Jessica pressed a hand to her belly and looked at the cash, the folder, and the investigators entering the hallway.
Then she made her choice.
“The offshore account is under another name,” she said. “Mark created it using his brother’s identification.”
Mark stared at her.
“Jessica.”
“He has a second phone hidden in the wine cellar. It contains messages with the developer.”
“Stop talking.”
“He planned to blame everything on me if the sale failed.”
James closed his eyes briefly.
Whatever remained of their marriage ended in that moment.
Jessica began explaining the entire scheme. She gave investigators passwords, account numbers, and the location of hidden records.
Her cooperation did not erase what she had done.
But it prevented Mark from destroying the evidence.
As officers escorted him from the mansion, Mark looked at Anna.
“After everything I did for you, you’re choosing strangers over your husband?”
Anna met his eyes.
“You stopped being my husband long before tonight.”
May you like
The front doors closed behind him.
For the first time in months, the mansion felt quiet.
