Buried in His Lies

Chapter 6

I stiffened, instantly on guard. "Of course I haven't forgotten," I said coldly. "Weren't you supposed to be a hostage?"

Rachel burst into laughter, loud, mocking laughter that brought tears to her eyes, like I'd just told the punchline of the year.

"A hostage? You really bought that?" she sneered. "That was just a little show my dad put on to protect me. I can't believe everyone actually fell for it. Your dear husband played the biggest role, you know. If it weren't for the fake autopsy report he signed off on, I might not have gotten away."

She leaned in closer, her voice turning icy. "Good thing I took care of your parents before the cops arrived. One clean stab. They didn't suffer much. A shame, really, too quick. But you? You've been a ticking time bomb ever since. Don't worry though. After today, you'll be joining them."

Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist and yanked me down the stairs.

We fell, hard. Tumbling down, step after step, until we crashed to the bottom in a mess of tangled limbs and blood.

Gasps filled the room. Faces turned pale. Martin was the first to react, sprinting toward us.

But he didn't even glance at me. He scooped Rachel into his arms, panic in his voice. "Rachel! Are you okay? What happened? How did you fall?"

Blood dripped from the corner of her lips as she played the part perfectly, clinging to him weakly. "It was… Jessie… she pushed me… said I had to pay for what happened five years ago… Martin, don't blame her. It's my fault. I never should've come today…"

A sharp, tearing pain exploded in my abdomen. Cold sweat soaked my clothes as I tried to speak. "No… she's lying… she's the one who, "

My mother-in-law's scream cut me off. Her face twisted with rage as she charged at me, her shoe slamming into my stomach.

"Bitch! Still trying to slander Rachel after all this? Who the hell do you think you are? Your parents got what they deserved, traitors, both of them! And you? Just trash, just like them. Rachel's carrying a baby, and you still had the nerve to attack her? I must've been insane to let someone like you into our family!"

"Martin, don't waste your time on her. Take Rachel to the hospital!"

Martin looked at me then, just once. Cold. Empty.

"You've really let me down, Jessie."

Then he turned and walked out, carrying Rachel in his arms like she was made of glass.

The rest of the family rushed out after them, leaving the house echoing with silence.

And me, bleeding, broken, alone on the floor.

With the last of my strength, I fumbled for my phone and dialed emergency services.

But it was too late.

I couldn't save the baby.

After the surgery, I didn't care what the doctors said. I signed the discharge papers myself.

I called a cab to the airport.

On the way there, Martin texted me. His tone was soft, almost pleading.

[Jessie, I promised I'd find out the truth, but you shouldn't have touched Rachel. She's a victim too, she's innocent. I already apologized to her for you. She said she wouldn't hold it against you.]

[Please don't stay mad. Once everything settles down, I'll take you on that trip you always wanted. Remember how you said you wanted to see the ocean? I've already booked the flights. Let's go, for our baby.]

So, he remembered the child after all.

I didn't reply.

Instead, I blocked him.

Then I scheduled the divorce papers to be sent straight to his inbox.

I also sent the case files and evidence I'd been holding onto for five years to the provincial authorities, under my real name.

Just as I finished, the airport speakers announced the final boarding call.

I snapped my SIM card in half and tossed it in the trash.

Without looking back, I walked toward the gate.

At that exact moment, in the hospital, Rachel opened her eyes.

Martin sat beside her, phone still in hand, waiting for a reply that would never come. A strange chill crawled through him.

"She's just upset," he told himself. "This trip… it's what she's been waiting for all these years. Once we're away, she'll calm down. She won't give Rachel any more trouble."

But just as he hit "submit" on his time-off request, his phone rang.

It was a colleague, his voice tight with panic.

"Martin! You need to get back to the station right now. Someone just reported the Sward family case from five years ago, and your name's all over it. Your wife's in serious danger."