Chapter 3 - The Accomplice
The footage was crystal clear, capturing the entire living room from a hidden angle.
Julian watched in horror as Vanessa shoved his little girl to the hard floor.
But then, a tall man stepped into the frame, handing Vanessa the heavy mop.
It was Marcus, Julian’s most trusted business partner and closest friend.
Julian felt the air completely leave his lungs.
In the video, Marcus laughed while Elena cried, sipping a glass of expensive scotch.
Vanessa stood silently behind Julian, realizing that her ultimate secret was now out.
“Marcus?” Julian whispered, the betrayal burning a hole right through his chest.
Vanessa suddenly stopped panicking and began to laugh a cold, dark laugh.
“You always were a bit blind, Julian,” she sneered, dropping the devoted wife act entirely.
Julian slammed the laptop shut and spun around to face her.
“How long?” he demanded, his fists trembling with pure rage.
“Long enough to take everything you own,” Vanessa replied, her eyes flashing with malice.
Julian reached for his phone to call the police, but Vanessa was faster.
She pulled a small, silver handgun from her designer handbag and pointed it directly at his chest.
“Put the phone down, darling,” she commanded softly.
Eleanor gasped, leaning heavily on her cane.
Julian slowly lowered his phone, realizing how utterly trapped he was.
Vanessa smiled, dialing a number on her own phone with her free hand.
“Marcus, it’s me,” she said into the receiver.
“The idiot found out, so it’s time to move to phase two.”
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Julian braced himself, wondering what phase two could possibly mean.
Then, he heard the sound of heavy boots kicking open the front door.
