Chapter 15: Truth Gets Out

Addicus spoke freely, unaware that Sharon was just behind the door hearing the entire conversation. Jacobos came to personally give him some updates about the gold production back in Jacksonville.

The business had been doing very well and Jacobos came to inform Addicus himself so he could take credit for the success.

"The workers find bigger chunks of gold every single day and our production speed has doubled in the last three weeks. We've also made a new batch of products and are ready to ship them out," Jacobos said.

"Good, good. Anything else?" Addicus inquired.

"Well, yes as a matter of fact. The townspeople have made some complaints about the smoke emissions released during manufacturing. They claim that the industrial chemicals in the smoke have been killing their crops and corrupting the fertility of their farmlands,"

"Let them rant. They can't do anything about it," Addicus said dismissively.

"Actually, they can and they are. The people have been signing petitions to get the town's government to shut down the factory and if they get enough signatures, a judge could rule in their favour and seize the land," Jacobos informed.

"That can never happen. That is my land. It's mine," Addicus said, annoyed and disturbed by the possibility of one of his main sources of income being seized by the government.

"I mean, I know it's yours. But, if the case should be taken to court, you would be asked to provide proof of ownership of the land,"

"We have the deed of ownership, don't we?" Addicus asked.

"We do but...you know it's a fake and if the court gets a hold of it, they could figure out that the signature is not that of Mr Thompson, and they'll ultimately discover that you stole the land which will certainly make you lose it permanently and maybe even get prosecuted for forgery and theft," Jacobos said to him.

As his attorney and right-hand man, it was his job to look out for his interests and his investments.

"With all that, who knows when they'll figure out that we killed Thompson and his wife and burned their home?" Jacobos added.

"No one could possibly know that. We covered our tracks and made sure not to leave any loose ends," Addicus was confident.

"Except for one loose end; the girl,"

Jacobos was still worried about Sharon and he made it pretty clear.

"You shouldn't have spared her life and even if you did, you should have left her at that orphanage where she wouldn't be a possible problem,"

"Sharon's not a problem, Jacobos. I

know how to handle her and very soon, she'll be my wife. She sees me as an angel and she completely adores me. You need to stop worrying about her," Addicus assured him.

"If you say so, Sir,"

Sharon was still standing on the other side of the door. Her head was spinning. She couldn't wrap her head around what she had just heard. It's not possible, it couldn't be.

**Addicus killed her parents! Her dad did not sell his land to him. He stole it and killed him and her mother. He had been lying to her all these years.**

The feelings of love Sharon ever felt for him immediately turned to hate and anger.

Sharon had to leave. She had to

run away from this place. She couldn't be in the same house with the man who ruined her life and killed her family.

She had to get away from him. As she started to back away, she bumped into someone. It was one of Addicus' bodyguards.

"I'm so sorry, JJ. I, I... I didn't see you there," she nervously apologized.

"It's okay, Miss Sharon. Are you here to see the boss?" JJ asked.

"No, I was just leaving," she replied and started to leave but was stopped by Addicus who heard her from inside the office and came out to speak with her.

"Sharon, my dear. Where have you

been all day? Come on in. We have so much to talk about," he said, excited to see her.

Jacobos also came out of the room and greeted her, announcing that he would be taking his leave. He departed and Sharon had no choice but to go into the office with Addicus.

"JJ, leave us. The lady and I need to talk about some things in private," Addicus said to the guard.

"Sure thing, Sir," JJ replied, left the house and went outside to hang out with the other personnel.

Addicus had his arm around her waist as he lead her in and she felt so irritated by his touch. At that moment, everything about him irked her.

His smell, his voice, his touch, and his stare. She hated him for what he had done to her family and was consumed by a strong urge for retribution.

"So, my dear, have you thought more

about my proposal?" He asked her and sat down, picked up his glass of whiskey, and took a sip.

Sharon couldn't hold back her emotions. It was only reasonable for her to pretend like she didn't know the truth but as much as she tried, she couldn't hold back her anger, her vexation, and her need for confrontation.

"Proposal? Really, Addicus? You truly have no shame. You are so evil, selfish and disgusting. How dare you even think about the idea of marrying me?" She said with anger furiously boiling in the pit of her stomach.

"Why are you saying all these things, Sharon?" He asked, confused about her insults.

"I know the truth. How long did you think you could hide it from me? I heard everything you said to your lawyer. You killed my parents. You killed them and

burned them in their own home," she said to his face.

Addicus' eyes widened in disbelief. The one thing he had been avoiding for so many years was finally happening.

*Sharon knew the truth and she hated him. Now he would have to do the unthinkable. He'd have to kill her to make sure his secret doesn't get out.*