Chapter 5 - The Woman Everyone Suspected
Margarite refused to leave the house.
She insisted on preparing Rafe's meals herself.
Sloan watched every movement.
Nothing looked suspicious.
Margarite washed vegetables.
Checked ingredients.
Taste-tested sauces.
She even prepared Rafe's tea.
Sloan expected that.
What she didn't expect was Margarite to quietly ask:
“Do you really believe I am poisoning my own son?”
Sloan looked at her.
“I don't know.”
Margarite's eyes hardened.
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because I have protected him since he was a child.”
Sloan remained silent.
Margarite continued.
“His father was ruthless. His enemies were worse. I spent years making sure Rafe survived both.”
“Then why did you hide the medical files?”
“Because his father was afraid someone would use them against him.”
Sloan studied her.
“Did you know Rafe was getting sick?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Four months.”
Rafe appeared in the doorway.
He had heard everything.
“Four months?”
Margarite turned.
“I wanted to protect you.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Margarite's voice broke.
“Of losing you.”
Rafe stared at her.
Sloan noticed something.
Margarite wasn't afraid of Sloan.
She was afraid of Rafe.
Not because he could hurt her.
Because he could discover something she had kept hidden.
Then Margarite whispered:
“Your father wasn't the person you thought he was.”
Rafe froze.
“What does that mean?”
Before she could answer, a glass shattered in the kitchen.
Everyone turned.
A servant screamed.
Sloan ran.
On the floor lay Rafe's medicine bottle.
Empty.
May you like
And beside it was a note.
Stop looking.
