I Decided to Surprise My Wife at the Airport Pickup — Then She Walked Out Holding Another Man’s Hand
Chapter 3
Olivia finally told him the story.
Three years earlier, she had discovered irregularities in her company’s accounts.
Millions of dollars had been moved through shell companies.
She reported it.
But before the investigation could begin, the employee responsible disappeared.
His name was Marcus Hale.
Marcus had been Olivia’s closest colleague.
And Nathan had been his brother.
Ethan listened carefully.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Of Nathan?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Olivia hesitated.
“Someone inside the company.”
Ethan sat back.
“Why did Nathan think I was involved?”
“Because your name appeared in one of the financial records.”
Ethan frowned.
“My name?”
“Yes.”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t know.”
She reached for her phone.
“I was going to show you this.”
She opened an old document.
Ethan stared at the screen.
A payment had been made to a company called Carter Consulting.
His company.
Except Ethan had never owned Carter Consulting.
His name had been used without his knowledge.
“When did you find this?”
“Three years ago.”
“And you never told me?”
“I thought whoever created it was watching me.”
Ethan looked at her.
“So you started seeing Nathan?”
Olivia shook her head.
“No.”
“Then why were you holding his hand?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because Nathan was pretending to be my boyfriend.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“He believed someone was following me.”
“So you pretended to be together?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make them think I had protection.”
Ethan almost laughed.
“That’s the worst explanation I’ve ever heard.”
“I know.”
Then Olivia leaned forward.
“But there is something else.”
“What?”
“The man who created that company wasn’t trying to steal money.”
Ethan frowned.
“Then what?”
“He was creating evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“That you were involved in a much bigger crime.”
Ethan felt cold.
“What crime?”
Olivia whispered:
“Murder.”
