Chapter 73 #73
Chapter 73
~Dante~
I was in the office when Shailyn showed up at the office just past noon. I wasn’t expecting her. I looked up when the door opened and for a second, my brain refused to catch up with what my eyes were seeing.
“Shailyn?”
She stood there, her hands resting beside her, her face pale but still having a small smile.
“What are you doing here?” I was already on my feet.
She gave a small smile. “Dwayne dropped me off.”
That immediately put me on edge. “Why?”
“He said it wasn’t safe for me to be alone at the manor,” she replied quietly. “He didn’t explain much.”
Of course he didn’t.
“You were supposed to be resting,” I said, keeping my voice gentle. “I don't…”
“I know what you said,” she cut in softly. “But I didn’t feel safe either. I just wanted to be somewhere familiar. With people.”
I exhaled slowly, forcing the tension down. “You should’ve called me.”
“I didn’t want to stress you,” she said. “You already have enough going on.”
I walked around the desk and took her hands. “You don’t get to decide that. You’re my wife.”
Her lips curved slightly. “I know.”
“Are you okay?” I asked. “Any pain? Dizziness?”
“I’m fine,” she assured me. “Just tired.”
I nodded. “Okay. You can stay as long as you want. Just… don’t wander around alone.”
“I won’t.”
She hesitated, then added, “I was thinking of checking on your dad. I haven’t seen him since the fire.”
“He’s in his office,” I said. “I’ll come by soon. Don't go anywhere.”
She leaned up and kissed my cheek. “I won't. Don’t work too hard.”
After she left, I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, staring at the closed door.
At least she was safe. I barely had time to sit back down when my phone buzzed.
Unknown number. Again. I already knew it wasn’t anything good.
Is your mother a m?
My jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached. I deleted it immediately, my hand shaking.
This has been going on for weeks now. Messages. Taunts. Just like that picture was sent days ago of my mother.
What is the deal with my mother?
The curiosity gnawed at me until I gave in and opened my gallery. The image was still there. Grainy. Deliberately low quality. But unmistakable. My mother, wrapped in the arms of a man. Intimate. Sexual. Familiar. His face blurred out like a cruel joke.
I’d hired my own investigator after the first message came in. Dead ends. Missing links. Nothing solid.
The office door opened without warning a few minutes after Shailyn left.
Mother walked in like she owned the air. Talk of the devil.
“Dante, darling,” she said smoothly. “I heard about the fire. Are you alright?”
“I'm fine mother, but I need you to see this.” I said fast.
I picked up my phone and slid it across the desk gently. Her eyes dropped to the screen. For just a second, the color drained from her face. Then the mask snapped back into place.
“Where did you get this?” she asked.
“That’s not important.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Dante…”
“You’re having an affair.”
Silence. She was about to talk when I cut her off.
“I don’t care who you’re fucking behind Father’s back,” I said, standing. “That’s your marriage. Your mess.”
Relief flickered across her features before she could stop it.
“But,” I continued, my voice dropping, “if whatever you’re involved in touches my wife or my children…”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re threatening me?”
“I’m warning you,” I said calmly. Let this stay away from Shailyn, and my family.”
“You don’t even know what’s going on.”
“Then don’t let it spill into my life,” I shot back. “I don’t care about your secrets. Just keep us out of it.”
She scoffed. “You think you’re protecting her.”
“I am.”
I stepped closer. “Touch a strand of her hair, and I’ll forget you’re my mother.”
For the first time, uncertainty crossed her face. She looked like she wanted to say something, something big, like she needed comfort. But whatever it was died on her tongue.
She turned and walked out.
Minutes later, my office door slammed open hard enough to rattle the frame.
Dwayne.
His eyes scanned the room immediately. “Where is she?”
I stiffened. “What?”
“Shailyn,” he snapped. “Where is she?”
“She was just here,” I said sharply. “Why are you yelling?”
“So you let her wander off?” he demanded. “After everything?”
“I didn’t let her wander anywhere,” I shot back. “She’s not a child.”
“Don’t get smart with me,” he growled. “I trusted you to look after her.”
“I’m her husband. You don't need to care. It is my business to look after her. By the way, she wanted to check on father,” I snapped. “She’s in his office.”
He exhaled sharply. “Well, do it right, like a husband will.”
“Why are you acting like this?” I demanded. “You drop my wife off unannounced and then barge in here like I’ve committed a crime?”
“Because you have,” he said coldly.
My stomach tightened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He stepped closer. “What did you give Shailyn?”
I frowned. “Excuse me?”
“What medication, Dante?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me,” he snapped, slamming his hands on my desk. “Dr. Gerald. Psychiatric wing. Experimental memory suppression drugs.”
My heart dropped, but I kept my face neutral.
“She needed help.”
“Help?” He let out a bitter laugh. “You weren’t helping her remember anything. You were making sure she never did.”
“That’s not true.”
“You drugged a pregnant woman,” he said quietly. “You poisoned her.”
“I helped her,” I snapped, standing. “She was happier not remembering.”
“Happier living a lie?”
“Better than the alternative!”
“So you manipulated her,” he said flatly. “Fed her false memories. Made sure the truth stayed buried.”
“I did what I had to do to protect my family.”
“If something happens to her,” Dwayne said, his voice deadly calm, “I’ll forget there was ever civility between us.”
“You don’t threaten me in my own office.”
“I’m thinking of telling her everything.”
My chest tightened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Watch me.”
I laughed, bitter and harsh. “And you think that will help her? She’s pregnant with twins, Dwayne. Fragile.”
“She deserves the truth.”
“She deserves peace.”
“Built on lies!”
“So what?” I stepped closer. “If the lies give her happiness, why does the truth matter?”
“Because it’s her life!”
“Says who? You?” I snapped. “The man hovering around my wife?”
“I want her safe.”
“Then stay out of my marriage.”
“This is my shit too,” he said darkly.
“What does that mean? It is not your business.”
He was about to respond. My phone buzzed out loud. Unknown number. Again.
I looked up at him, and told him.
“I have things to handle,” I said.
“This isn’t over.” He replied.
“No,” I agreed. “It’s not.”
He turned and walked out.
I stood there alone, anger simmering beneath my skin.
Someone was playing mind games with my family.
And I was done letting them.