Chapter 2 - My Husband’s First WifeAnna had never been afraid of Julian’s voice before.
That was what made it terrifying.
No anger.
No panic.
Just disappointment.
As though she had opened a bottle of wine he had been saving.
“Anna.”
His shoes appeared at the top of the stairs.
Mara squeezed Anna’s hand.
Then whispered:
“Make him believe I told you nothing.”
Anna understood.
She stepped toward the stairs.
“Julian?”
“There you are.”
He descended.
Phone flashlight illuminating his face.
Wet hair.
Dark coat.
He smiled.
“What are you doing down here?”
Anna forced confusion.
“I heard someone.”
Julian’s light moved toward Mara.
His smile disappeared.
“Mara.”
She stared at him.
He looked back at Anna.
“How much did she tell you?”
“Who is she?”
Julian studied Anna’s face.
Years of marriage became useful.
She knew how he watched for weakness.
How his eyes moved when calculating.
How silence invited people to fill gaps.
So Anna did exactly what he expected.
She became emotional.
“You told me this wing was empty!”
Julian relaxed slightly.
Good.
“I can explain.”
“You have a woman locked under our house!”
“She is dangerous.”
Mara laughed.
Julian ignored her.
“She has been mentally unwell for years.”
Anna almost admired the speed.
“What?”
“Mara is my cousin.”
Mara’s jaw tightened.
Julian continued.
“She became obsessed with me after a family inheritance dispute.”
Anna stared.
“She says she owns Blackwood.”
“She would.”
“She says you were married.”
Julian smiled sadly.
“That’s the delusion.”
Mara whispered:
“You bastard.”
Julian turned.
“Enough.”
The command was automatic.
Mara flinched.
Anna noticed.
Julian noticed Anna noticing.
He softened his tone.
“Mara has attempted suicide repeatedly.”
Mara laughed again.
“Ask him for the death certificate.”
Julian’s face tightened.
Anna looked at him.
“What death certificate?”
“She’s trying to confuse you.”
“Show me.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“The estate records are in London.”
Mara whispered:
“Desk.”
Julian turned sharply.
She continued:
“Bottom drawer. False panel.”
His expression changed.
Tiny.
But enough.
Anna saw it.
Julian moved toward Mara.
Anna stepped between them.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
For the first time in three years of marriage, she saw something in his eyes she had mistaken for confidence.
Control.
The need for it.
“Anna.”
“No.”
“You’re frightened.”
“Yes.”
“Then come upstairs.”
“With her.”
“No.”
“Then I’m staying.”
Julian stared at his wife.
Something changed.
He realized he no longer knew which version of Anna he was speaking to.
The obedient wife?
The confused wife?
Or the woman quietly memorizing everything?
Then Mara screamed:
“RUN!”
The lights came on.
Not household power.
Emergency lights.
Red.
Julian lunged.
Anna moved.
Mara threw the metal chair.
It struck Julian’s shoulder.
He stumbled.
Anna grabbed Mara.
They ran up the stairs.
Julian shouted behind them.
“ANNA!”
They reached the corridor.
Anna slammed the hidden door.
No lock from outside.
Mara pointed toward a bronze sculpture.
“Move it!”
Together they shoved the heavy statue against the panel.
Julian hit the door from beneath.
Once.
Twice.
Mara grabbed Anna’s phone.
“No signal.”
“Storm.”
“Or jammer.”
Anna looked at her.
“What?”
“Julian installed one before.”
Of course.
They ran toward the front entrance.
Locked.
Anna tried her key.
Nothing.
Electronic security.
Disabled.
Every exterior door had sealed automatically.
Mara whispered:
“He controls the house remotely.”
Anna looked toward the security room.
“Not if we cut the system.”
“You know how?”
“No.”
“But Jonah does.”
“Who?”
“Our groundskeeper.”
Mara’s face changed.
“Jonah Reed?”
“Yes.”
“You trust him?”
“I think so.”
Mara grabbed Anna.
“Julian once paid Jonah to dispose of evidence.”
Anna froze.
“What evidence?”
“Mine.”
Before she could ask more, the hidden panel exploded open behind them.
Julian emerged holding a fireplace poker.
His shoulder bleeding.
His face no longer calm.
“There is nowhere to go.”
Anna backed away.
Julian looked at her.
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After the trust transfer.”
Mara laughed bitterly.
Anna caught the phrase.
“What trust transfer?”
Julian realized his mistake.
Too late.
Mara answered.
“Your marriage.”
Anna stared.
“What about my marriage?”
“Why do you think he married you?”
Julian shouted:
“Shut up!”
Mara looked at Anna.
“Your father’s company.”
Anna stopped.
Her father had founded Halcyon Biotech.
After his death, Anna inherited twenty-three percent.
Julian always claimed her business bored him.
Mara continued:
“Next month you turn thirty-five.”
Anna knew.
“At thirty-five, your restricted shares become transferable.”
Julian’s face told her everything.
Mara whispered:
“He didn’t need another wife.”
May you like
She looked toward Julian.
“He needed another trust.”
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