Chapter 2 - THE LETTER
“Where did you get that?”
Evelyn looked down.
Too late.
Sarah had already seen it.
“What?”
“The envelope.”
Evelyn shoved it deeper into her purse.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“That has my father’s handwriting on it.”
Mark moved between them.
“Sarah, enough.”
“Move.”
“No.”
One of the officers raised his hand.
“Sir, step aside.”
Mark’s face flushed.
“This is my home.”
“And right now we’re asking you to cooperate.”
Sarah pointed at Evelyn’s purse.
“That envelope belongs to me.”
Evelyn laughed nervously.
“You’re insane.”
“Then open your purse.”
“I don’t have to show you anything.”
The officer looked at Evelyn.
“Ma’am, nobody is searching you without legal cause. But I strongly suggest you stop reaching into that bag.”
Evelyn’s hand froze.
Sarah caught it.
The fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
Mark saw it too.
“Evelyn,” he said quietly.
She snapped at him.
“Don’t.”
Sarah looked between them.
“How long?”
Mark frowned.
“What?”
“How long have you two been lying to me?”
“Sarah…”
“How long?”
Lily started crying behind her.
“Mommy, I want to go home.”
Sarah’s heart broke.
This was home.
Or at least it had been ten minutes ago.
She crouched beside Lily.
“We are going somewhere safe, sweetheart.”
Mark stepped forward.
“You’re not taking her anywhere.”
Sarah stood.
“Try stopping me.”
The younger officer moved between them.
“Sir, do not escalate this.”
Evelyn suddenly turned toward the hallway.
Sarah noticed.
So did the officer.
“Ma’am?”
“I’m leaving.”
“You may want to stay until we understand what happened.”
“I said I’m leaving.”
She took three steps.
Then Lily spoke.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, baby?”
Lily pointed at Evelyn.
“That’s the lady Daddy kisses in the kitchen.”
The room went dead.
Sarah didn’t move.
For one terrible second, she thought she hadn’t heard correctly.
Mark looked at Lily.
“Sweetheart, that’s not—”
“Don’t talk to her.”
Sarah’s voice was low now.
Dangerously low.
Mark swallowed.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Sarah stared at her husband.
“My daughter knew before I did?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“That sentence should be illegal.”
“Sarah, listen to me.”
“How long?”
Mark said nothing.
Sarah looked at Evelyn.
“You tell me.”
Evelyn’s mouth twisted.
“Eight months.”
Sarah felt like someone had punched straight through her chest.
Eight months.
Her father had died seven months ago.
She looked at Mark.
“You were sleeping with her while my father was dying?”
Mark rubbed his face.
“I made mistakes.”
“Mistakes?”
Sarah laughed through tears.
“You don’t accidentally have an eight-month affair.”
Lily hugged Sarah’s leg.
Sarah forced herself to stay upright.
The officer spoke gently.
“Mrs. Bennett, do you have somewhere you and your daughter can stay tonight?”
“Yes.”
Mark snapped.
“No. She’s not leaving with Lily.”
Sarah turned toward him.
“You just publicly admitted your mistress has been in my home around my child.”
“I didn’t admit anything.”
Evelyn shouted, “Oh, stop it, Mark!”
Everyone looked at her.
Evelyn’s face was red.
“You said she already knew!”
Sarah’s stomach turned.
Mark hissed, “Shut up.”
But Evelyn was angry now.
“You told me the money problem was handled.”
Sarah’s eyes locked on her.
“What money problem?”
Evelyn realized her mistake.
Mark didn’t.
He grabbed Evelyn by the arm.
“Not another word.”
The officer stepped forward.
“Sir. Let go of her.”
Mark released her.
Sarah’s voice barely came out.
“What money problem?”
Evelyn looked at Mark.
Then at Sarah.
And smiled bitterly.
“The three hundred eighty thousand dollars your father left you.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
The number was exact.
Sarah had never told Evelyn the amount.
She had never told anyone except Mark and the attorney.
May you like
Then Evelyn said the sentence that changed everything.
“Ask your husband why half of it is sitting in an account under my name.”
