Eleven Years of Marriage, One Night of Betrayal

Sierra entered the house without knocking.

She wore dark

Sierra entered the house without knocking.

She wore dark sunglasses, a cream trench coat, and the diamond necklace sunglasses, a cream trench coat, and the diamond necklace Richard had given her for their fifth anniversary. Her hair was pulled into Richard had given her for their fifth anniversary. Her hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, and she carried the black leather book against her chest.

She a neat ponytail, and she carried the black leather book against her chest.

She looked nothing like the woman who had stood beside my looked nothing like the woman who had stood beside my pool the previous evening, crying beneath a towel.

This Sierra looked pool the previous evening, crying beneath a towel.

This Sierra looked prepared.

She stopped when she saw Marcus.

Then she noticed prepared.

She stopped when she saw Marcus.

Then she noticed Evelyn.

The color drained from her face.

“Oh, my God.””

Evelyn crossed Evelyn.

The color drained from her face.

“Oh, my God.””

Evelyn crossed her arms.

“Hello, Sierra.””

Sierra took one step backward.

“No.””

“ her arms.

“Hello, Sierra.””

Sierra took one step backward.

“No.””

“I'm afraid so.””

“You're dead.””

“ApparentlyI'm afraid so.””

“You're dead.””

“Apparently, that hasn't stopped people from using my name.””

Sierra looked at me.

“Victoria,, that hasn't stopped people from using my name.””

Sierra looked at me.

“Victoria, you need to listen to me.””

I glanced at the book in her hands.

“Is you need to listen to me.””

I glanced at the book in her hands.

“Is that the second ledger?””

She clutched it tighter.

“I came here to that the second ledger?””

She clutched it tighter.

“I came here to protect you.””

Marcus moved toward her.

“Put the book on the table.””

“I protect you.””

Marcus moved toward her.

“Put the book on the table.””

“I won't hand anything over until I speak to my attorney.””

“Then keep won't hand anything over until I speak to my attorney.””

“Then keep your hands visible and wait here while we arrange that your hands visible and wait here while we arrange that.””

Sierra looked at me desperately.

“Please. I know how this looks, but Damon.””

Sierra looked at me desperately.

“Please. I know how this looks, but Damon told me everything was legal. He said the transfers were part of a told me everything was legal. He said the transfers were part of a private investment.””

I stared at her.

“You told me you loved him private investment.””

I stared at her.

“You told me you loved him.””

She lowered her eyes.

“I did.””

“You knew he was married.””

“Yes.””

She lowered her eyes.

“I did.””

“You knew he was married.””

“Yes.””

“You knew I was his wife.””

“Yes.””

“And you still came into my home.””

“You knew I was his wife.””

“Yes.””

“And you still came into my home and slept with him.””

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know.””

“Then don't and slept with him.””

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know.””

“Then don't tell me you came here to protect me.””

Sierra swallowed.

“I came here because Damon is going to blame tell me you came here to protect me.””

Sierra swallowed.

“I came here because Damon is going to blame everything on me.””

“Is he lying?””

She everything on me.””

“Is he lying?””

She looked toward Evelyn.

“I didn't know what the money was for.””

E looked toward Evelyn.

“I didn't know what the money was for.””

Evelyn laughed bitterly.

“You opened a consulting company withvelyn laughed bitterly.

“You opened a consulting company with no employees. You signed invoices for services that were never provided. You accepted nearly no employees. You signed invoices for services that were never provided.

You accepted nearly half a million dollars from Victoria's joint account. What exactly did you think the money was for half a million dollars from Victoria's joint account. What exactly did you think the money was for?””

Sierra's lips trembled.

“Damon told me it was?””

Sierra's lips trembled.

“Damon told me it was an investment.””

“In what?””

“A property development project.””

“Which property?””

S an investment.””

“In what?””

“A property development project.””

“Which property?””

Sierra said nothing.

Evelyn stepped closer.

“You don'tierra said nothing.

Evelyn stepped closer.

“You don't know, do you?””

Sierra looked down at the ledger.

Then she whispered, “He know, do you?””

Sierra looked down at the ledger.

Then she whispered, “He said it was the estate.””

My stomach tightened.

“What estate?””

“Your father's estate.””

said it was the estate.””

My stomach tightened.

“What estate?””

“Your father's estate.””

I stared at her.

“Explain.””

Sierra took a shaky breath.

“Damon said yourI stared at her.

“Explain.””

Sierra took a shaky breath.

“Damon said your father had created an investment trust before he died. He said the trust was supposed to transfer father had created an investment trust before he died. He said the trust was supposed to transfer to him after your wedding, but certain documents were missing.

He told me the money was to him after your wedding, but certain documents were missing. He told me the money was being moved temporarily until the ownership records being moved temporarily until the ownership records could be corrected.””

I felt cold.

“Did you could be corrected.””

I felt cold.

“Did you believe him?””

“At first.””

“And later?””

She looked away.

“Later, I realized believe him?””

“At first.””

“And later?””

She looked away.

“Later, I realized something was wrong.””

“When?””

“Three months ago. Richard found a payment something was wrong.””

“When?””

“Three months ago. Richard found a payment that didn't match our business records. He asked me about it, and I panicked.

that didn't match our business records. He asked me about it, and I panicked. I called Damon.””

“What did he tell you?””

“That he would handle it.””

I I called Damon.””

“What did he tell you?””

“That he would handle it.””

I remembered the anonymous messages, the missing folder, and the brass key.

remembered the anonymous messages, the missing folder, and the brass key.

“Did Damon give you the second ledger?””

Sierra nodded.

“He told me to“Did Damon give you the second ledger?””

Sierra nodded.

“He told me to keep it somewhere safe. He said if anyone discovered the transfers, I should tell them I was keep it somewhere safe. He said if anyone discovered the transfers, I should tell them I was acting on his instructions.””

“And you agreed?””

“He threatened me acting on his instructions.””

“And you agreed?””

“He threatened me.””

I stared at her.

“What did he threaten you with?””

She pressed the ledger.””

I stared at her.