The Secret in the Manor Walls That Destroyed My Marriage Forever
Previously: When Evelyn uncovered a dusty manila folder hidden deep within her husband's family manor, she thought it was a simple mistake. Instead, it was a lie that would tear her world apart.
The Cost of a Lie
Eleanor waved her hand dismissively, as if dismissing a minor inconvenience. "Marcus is a simpleton who is perfectly happy with his dirt and his plants. He wouldn't know what to do with a fortune like ours. He would ruin the family legacy within a year. We did him a favor by keeping him away from this burden."
"A burden?" I scoffed, tears of anger stinging my eyes. "You denied him his birthright so you could keep your precious social standing. And you," I turned to Julian, my heart aching with a profound sense of betrayal, "you lied to me every single day. You knew who you were, and you let me believe we were building a life on honesty."
Julian reached out to grab my arm, his grip tighter than it had ever been. "I did it for us, Evelyn! I love you. I wanted to give you the world. What good does it do to destroy our lives for a man who doesn't even know what he's missing?"
"The truth always matters, Julian," I said, wrenching my arm free from his grasp.
Before they could stop me, I turned the brass deadbolt on the heavy front door and threw it open. The freezing rain hit my face like a shock to the system, but I didn't care. I bolted out into the dark night, sprinting down the gravel driveway as the storm howled around me. Behind me, I could hear Julian shouting my name, his footsteps splashing through the puddles in hot pursuit.
I ran toward the estate cottage where the groundskeeper lived. The small, warm light in Marcus's window was my only beacon of hope. But as I reached the edge of the gardens, Julian tackled me to the wet grass. The folder flew from my hands, sliding across the mud. We both scrambled for it, drenched and desperate, our marriage dissolving into a muddy brawl under the flashing lightning. Julian pinned my shoulders down, his eyes pleading. "Please, Evelyn. Don't do this to me. I'm begging you."
”Don't do this to me. I'm begging you."