Chapter 2

"My mental state is perfectly clear," I replied, standing to face him. "I want you to explain why. Why the elaborate deception? Why marry me if all you wanted was my money?"

Edward's eyes narrowed, all pretense of the loving husband I thought I knew completely gone. The transformation was chilling—like watching a mask slip away to reveal something monstrous underneath.

"You want to know why?" he snarled, stepping closer until I could smell the whiskey on his breath. "Because it was easy. You were so desperate to be loved, so pathetically grateful for any attention. All I had to do was smile and you practically handed everything over."

Each word cut deeper than any knife could. Three years of marriage—of sharing a bed, of planning a future, of believing I'd found someone who saw me for who I was—reduced to a cold business transaction.

"I'm calling my lawyer in the morning," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the earthquake happening inside me. "I have copies of everything. The affair, your plans for my inheritance, the conversations with your family. You won't get a penny of my father's money."

Zoe laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "You stupid little princess. You think anyone will believe you? The grieving, unstable widow making wild accusations?"

"They'll believe evidence," I countered, holding up a flash drive. "And I have plenty."

Something dangerous flashed in Edward's eyes. He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist so hard I gasped.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," he hissed, twisting until I dropped the flash drive. "No fucking idea."

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, sending shooting pain up my arm. "Let go of me!"

"Or what?" His face was inches from mine, distorted with rage. "You'll call Daddy? Oh wait, he's dead."

I slapped him. The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot.

For a moment, everything went still. Edward touched his reddening cheek, looking at me with such hatred that I instinctively stepped back.

"You're going to regret that," he said quietly. Then he pulled out his phone and turned away from me. "Eric? Yeah, it's me. We have a problem. She knows everything... No, I don't think she's bluffing... Get Evan and come over. Now."

My stomach dropped. I glanced at the door, calculating my chances of reaching it before Edward could stop me.

"Don't even think about it," he warned, ending the call. "Sit down. We're going to have a family meeting."

"I'm not your family," I spat. "I never was."

"That's where you're wrong, Wendy," Zoe interjected, settling comfortably on the couch like she belonged there. "You're the golden goose. The meal ticket. The whole reason for this little arrangement."

I felt sick. "And what are you? The consolation prize?"

Her smug smile faltered slightly, but Edward stepped between us. "Enough. Sit down, Wendy. Now."

I remained standing, gathering what courage I had left. "I want both of you out of my house."

"Your house?" Edward laughed, the sound devoid of any warmth. "This house, like everything else, will be mine soon enough."

The doorbell rang, and Edward smiled coldly. "That'll be my brothers. Time to discuss how we're going to handle this... complication."

Fear crawled up my spine as he went to answer the door. I'd met Eric and Evan many times over the years, always finding them off-putting but harmless. Now I wondered if I'd been blind about them too.

They entered the living room with Edward, their expressions grim. Eric, the eldest, surveyed the scene with calculating eyes, while Evan cracked his knuckles nervously.

"So she found out," Eric said flatly. "I told you to be more careful."

"She's been snooping," Edward replied. "Found Dad's files."

I froze. "My father knew?"

Edward's smile was cruel. "Why do you think he hid the evidence instead of telling you? He was trying to protect his precious little girl from the truth—that her husband never loved her."

The revelation hit me like a physical blow. My father had known and tried to shield me, even as he was dying. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"She's threatening to go to lawyers," Edward continued. "Says she has copies of everything."

Eric's face darkened. "Where are the copies?"

"I'm not telling you anything," I said, backing away as the three brothers began to advance on me. "Stay away from me."

"Wendy, Wendy, Wendy," Evan sighed, shaking his head. "Always so dramatic. We just want to talk."

I bumped into the wall behind me, cornered. Eric moved quickly, grabbing both my arms and pinning them to my sides. I struggled against his grip, but he was too strong.

"Let me go!" I shouted, kicking out. Evan easily sidestepped and positioned himself to block any escape route.

Edward approached slowly, his expression almost sad. "You could have made this easy, Wendy. We could have given you a comfortable allowance, let you keep your dignity. But now..."

The slap came without warning, the force of it snapping my head to the side. Pain exploded across my cheek, and I tasted blood where my teeth had cut the inside of my mouth.

"Where are the copies?" Edward demanded.

I spat blood at his feet. "Go to hell."

Eric tightened his grip painfully. "Wrong answer."

Edward nodded to Evan, who stepped forward with an ugly grin. His fist drove into my stomach with shocking force, driving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, gasping, but Eric held me upright.

"The copies, Wendy," Edward repeated calmly, as if asking about the weather.

I could barely breathe, let alone speak. Through watering eyes, I saw Zoe watching from the couch, her expression a mixture of satisfaction and discomfort.

"This is taking too long," Evan complained, and suddenly his foot connected with my legs, sweeping them out from under me.

Eric released me at the same moment, and I crashed to the floor, my head striking the edge of the coffee table on the way down. Pain exploded behind my eyes, and for a moment, the room swam in and out of focus.

I lay there, tasting blood and defeat, looking up at the three men who towered over me—men I had once called family. Edward crouched beside me, his voice soft but menacing.

"This is just the beginning, Wendy. Tell us where the copies are, or things will get much, much worse."

From my position on the floor, with pain radiating through every part of my body, I realized with terrifying clarity that I was completely at their mercy. And they had none.