Chapter 17 - Face-to-Face with the GhostShe stood there in the dim light, wearing the same trench coat from the driveway. Her dark eyes were filled with tears, and her hands were raised defensively.
"Graham, please," Elena choked out, her voice trembling. "Don't run. Let me explain."
"Explain what?" I shouted, stepping back and putting Maisie behind me. "Explain how you faked your death? Explain how you abandoned our daughter so you could run off with a syndicate of fraudsters and my best friend?"
Elena flinched as if I had struck her physically. She looked down at Maisie, who was staring at her with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
"I didn't want to leave you, baby," Elena whispered, taking a step forward. "Sloane threatened you, Graham! She told me if I didn't walk away from the car crash and let her take my place, she would hurt Maisie. I did it to keep her safe!"
"You lied!" a voice boomed from the hallway behind us.
Marcus appeared at the top of the stairs, panting heavily, still clutching the iron poker in one hand. His eyes were wide and manic. "Don't listen to her, Graham. Elena loved the money just as much as Sloane did. She helped set up the offshore accounts!"
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Elena spun around to face Marcus, her previous sorrow instantly vanishing, replaced by a flash of pure fury. "You lied to me, Marcus! You said Sloane was just a business partner, not a psychopath trying to murder a child!"
"We're all partners in this, El," Marcus smiled coldly, stepping into the bedroom. "And now, unfortunately, the partnership has reached its expiration date."
