Chapter 26 – No One Can Know The Truth!
I exhaled slowly, pressing the red button on my phone to end the call.
A small smirk played on my lips as I placed the robotic voice changer back into its black velvet box.
Rachel should get the message now. If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll stay out of my business.
Just as I was about to put the box away, a loud knock startled me.
“Susan, open the door!” Michael’s voice was sharp, impatient.
My heart jumped, and I quickly shoved the box deep into the drawer before straightening my dress.
I rushed to the door, unlocking it just as Michael stormed in. His face was tight with anger, his blue eyes blazing.
“Why was the door locked?” he demanded.
I forced a small laugh, brushing my hair back. “I was changing, Michael. You know how Ivan just barges into rooms without knocking. I didn’t want him walking in on me.” Michael narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “You’re lying.”
I stiffened but kept my expression neutral. “Michael, what’s wrong? Why are you upset?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he grabbed the remote and turned on the television.
The news channel flickered on, and my breath caught in my throat.
BREAKING NEWS: RUSSO CORPORATION LINKED TO THE MURDER OF XAVIER CRAWFORD’S MOTHER.
My stomach twisted as the screen showed documents, financial records, and old footage of Xavier’s mother from three years ago.
The reporter spoke in an urgent tone, explaining that the man responsible for her death had received funds from Russo Corporation before the tragic incident.
I turned to Michael, feeling cold all over. “What… What is this?”
Michael let out a bitter laugh. “What does it look like? Xavier and Rachel did this. This is their work.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. “First, Xavier takes my company. Now, he’s dragging my family’s name through the mud. He won’t stop until he destroys us completely!”
I swallowed hard. “Michael, calm down. Maybe–maybe this isn’t Xavier’s doing.” Michael’s head snapped up, fury flashing in his eyes. “Who else could it be, Susan? You
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The reporter spoke in an urgent tone, explaining that the man responsible for her death. had received funds from Russo Corporation before the tragic incident.
I turned to Michael, feeling cold all over. “What… What is this?”
Michael let out a bitter laugh. “What does it look like? Xavier and Rachel did this. This is their work.”
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. “First, Xavier takes my company. Now, he’s dragging my family’s name through the mud. He won’t stop until he destroys us completely!”
I swallowed hard. “Michael, calm down. Maybe–maybe this isn’t Xavier’s doing.” Michael’s head snapped up, fury flashing in his eyes. “Who else could it be, Susan? You think this kind of information just magically appears in the news? He’s behind it! I know it.” I reached for his hands, squeezing them gently. “Michael, listen to me. We’ll fix this. We
always do.”
He pulled away, shaking his head. “How, Susan? My family is already drowning in. problems. If this turns into a criminal investigation, we’re finished.”
I chewed on my lip, trying to think. “Let’s just wait. Maybe it’ll blow over.”
Michael let out a humorless laugh. “You really think that? This is Xavier Crawford we’re talking about. He doesn’t let things go.”
I didn’t have an answer to that.
Michael sighed, rubbing his temples. “I need to rest.”
I watched as he walked toward the bed, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
As soon as I was sure he had fallen asleep, I slipped out of the room.
I needed to talk to Maria.
Maria’s room was dimly lit when I arrived, but I could hear voices from inside. As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t just Maria.
Gerald was with her.
And they were arguing.
I hesitated outside the door, then decided to listen.
“You expect me to believe you had no idea?” Gerald’s voice was low but laced with anger.
Maria scoffed. “I wasn’t handling the company’s accounts back then, Gerald. You know that.”
Gerald’s voice grew sharper. “How convenient that the Chief Financial Officer from three years ago mysteriously died just days after the accident.”
Maria’s tone turned icy. “What exactly are you implying?”
“I’m saying it’s suspicious,” Gerald shot back. “Our company is now being accused of financing a murderer, and the only person who could’ve clarified things is dead. That’s not
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As soon as I was sure he had fallen asleep, I slipped out of the room.
I needed to talk to Maria.
Maria’s room was dimly lit when I arrived, but I could hear voices from inside. As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t just Maria.
Gerald was with her.
And they were arguing.
I hesitated outside the door, then decided to listen.
“You expect me to believe you had no idea?” Gerald’s voice was low but laced with anger.
Maria scoffed. “I wasn’t handling the company’s accounts back then, Gerald. You know that.”
Gerald’s voice grew sharper. “How convenient that the Chief Financial Officer from three years ago mysteriously died just days after the accident.”
Maria’s tone turned icy. “What exactly are you implying?”
“I’m saying it’s suspicious,” Gerald shot back. “Our company is now being accused of financing a murderer, and the only person who could’ve clarified things is dead. That’s not a coincidence, Maria.”
I took a deep breath before pushing the door open. “Enough. Both of you.”
Maria turned, her expression dark, while Gerald barely spared me a glance as he stormed
out.
“You guys shouldn’t be fighting among yourselves,” I said calmly. “We need to figure out what to do now that this is out in the open.”
Maria exhaled sharply, walking over to her bed. “For now, we do nothing.”
I frowned. “Nothing?”
Maria’s eyes met mine. “Xavier and Rachel think they’ve uncovered something huge, but they’re only scratching the surface. Let them believe they’ve won this round. We can’t afford any more attention right now.”
I hesitated. “But what if they dig deeper?”
Maria’s expression hardened. “Then we make sure they don’t.”
I crossed my arms. “You mean we keep lying.”
Maria’s jaw tightened. “We do what we must to protect this family.”
I swallowed. “And what about Michael? He’s already furious. He won’t sit back and do nothing.”
Maria sighed. “That’s why you need to handle him, Susan. Keep him under control.”
I stiffened. “Michael isn’t a child.”
“No,” Maria agreed. “But he’s emotional. And right now, we can’t afford reckless decisions.” I nodded slowly, understanding what she was asking of me.
Maria’s lins pressed into a thin line. “No one can ever know the real truth Susan Not
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Maria’s eyes met mine. “Xavier and Rachel think they’ve uncovered something huge, but they’re only scratching the surface. Let them believe they’ve won this round. We can’t afford any more attention right now.”
I hesitated. “But what if they dig deeper**
Maria’s expression hardened. “Then we make sure they don’t.”
I crossed my arms. “You mean we keep lying”
Maria’s jaw tightened. “We do what we must to protect this family.”
I swallowed. “And what about Michael? He’s already furious. He won’t sit back and do nothing.”
Maria sighed. “That’s why you need to handle him, Susan. Keep him under control.”
I stiffened. “Michael isn’t a child.”
“No,” Maria agreed. “But he’s emotional. And right now, we can’t afford reckless decisions.”
I nodded slowly, understanding what she was asking of me.
Maria’s lips pressed into a thin line. “No one can ever know the real truth, Susan. Not Xavier. Not Rachel. Not even Gerald.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “So what do we do now?”
Maria looked at me, her gaze sharp. “For now, you suspend all your plans. No more games with Rachel. No more distractions. We wait.”
I clenched my fists. “Maria-”
“No arguments, Susan,” she cut me off. “If you want to stay in this family, you’ll listen.”
I took a deep breath, nodding. “Fine. I’ll wait.”
