Chapter 7
The damp air inside the boathouse seemed to grow colder as the reality of the documents settled over Julian and Evelyn. The yellowed pages in Julian’s hand were no longer just old municipal records; they were a mirror reflecting a past he had successfully buried beneath wealth, social standing, and a new romance. Evelyn stared at the papers, her white lace wedding dress feeling suddenly like a costume—a mask hiding a foundation built on deceit and cowardice.
“Is it true, Julian?” Evelyn asked, her voice cracking slightly as she turned to face him. Her green eyes, usually so steady and reassuring, were filled with a profound sense of betrayal. “Did you know about the insurance fraud? Did you let Thomas take the blame for something we both benefited from?”
Julian closed his eyes for a moment, the exhaustion of the day finally overtaking his defenses. He couldn’t lie to Evelyn—not here, not with the undeniable proof spread across the rough wooden table. “I knew the finances were unstable,” Julian admitted quietly, his voice heavy with defeat. “I knew the insurance payout was the only thing that kept us from total ruin. But I swear to you, Evelyn, I didn't set the fire. I didn't know Thomas was inside the lodge that night until it was already too late to go back.”
Rebecca crossed her arms, watching them with a cold, unforgiving gaze. “Too late to go back? Convenient words, Julian. Thomas lost three years of his life in a federal penitentiary. He lost his health, his reputation, and his family. And while he was rotting behind bars, you were planning a lavish wedding in St. Jude’s parish, playing the successful businessman and the doting father.”
“Where is Thomas now?” Evelyn demanded, stepping toward Rebecca with a sudden surge of urgency. Her initial shock had transformed into a desperate need for resolution. If there was a wrong to be righted, she needed to know how deep the wound went.
Rebecca hesitated, her tough exterior cracking for a brief second as a genuine shudder ran through her frame. “He’s in the hospital, Evelyn. City General. He had a massive stroke two days ago. The doctors say he might not make it through the night. Before he lost consciousness, he gave me these papers from his safety deposit box. He told me that if anything happened to him, I had to make sure the truth came to light before Julian legally bound himself to a new life built on a lie.”
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The words hung in the damp air like a death sentence. Julian looked down at the manila envelope, the gravity of the situation crashing down upon him. Lily was waiting back at the church. Eighty guests were wondering where the groom and bride had vanished to. But none of that mattered anymore. The illusion of their perfect life had shattered into a thousand jagged pieces.
“We have to go to the hospital,” Julian said firmly, folding the documents back into the envelope with steady, deliberate movements. He looked at Evelyn, offering her no excuses, only a silent plea for understanding. “We have to go right now.”
