Chapter 29
Fiona
Beep
Beep
Beep
Groaning, I go to turn over, but pain in my arm and head stop me.
“Fiona? Are you awake?”
Against the protests of my aching head, I open my eyes and find Isla hovering over me.
“Wh–what happened?”
The room is plain white and that incessant beeping continues off to my side.
“You were mugged last night. Someone found you, called the police, and they brought you to the hospital,” she whispers, lifting her hand to brush some hair from my face.
“My body hurts,” I murmur, feeling multiple aches and pains sprouting through my body with every second.
Isla sniffles and wipes at her watery eyes. I don’t remember the last time I saw her cry, so I stare at her confused.
“Is it bad?” I ask, trying to look down. The movement sends a wave of dizziness over me, and she stands.
“Don’t move too much. The doctor said you have a slight concussion and a light fracture in your right wrist, along with some scrapes from the scuffle,” she tells me then gently lifts my wrist to show it’s wrapped in some type of gauze and stretchy material.
I groan. This won’t be good for work.
“Are you okay?” She asks hesitantly. “When I called, you didn’t answer, so I tracked your phone and rushed here when I saw where you were. You scared me to death, and then I found out… I found out you’d been attacked.”
Tears fill my eyes as she stumbles through her explanation and as memories from last night resurface. Their hands holding me down, keeping me quiet. The man’s comments about hurting me. Slamming into the wall. Hitting my head. The man yanking my purse and hurting my wrist.
“I’m okay,” I lie.
So many emotions swirl through my body, but Isla knows me better than that.
“No, you’re not, but you will be. I’ll stay with you until you feel better,” she promises, pulling me into a gentle hug.
“Thanks,” I murmur, hugging her back with my good arm.
***
“Has he answered your message yet?” Isla asks, plopping down on the couch.
After getting out of the hospital, I’d told Ryan I was taking the day off work because I wasn’t feeling well, and I’d messaged Ethan about the attack. That was four hours ago.
“He hasn’t,” I answer, and the familiar feeling of abandonment tugs at my chest. I know he’s probably busy, but I’d tried to
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Chapter 29
call him, and I’d messaged him about the attack. Does he not care that I got hurt?
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He wouldn’t be that calloused, but then again, I still don’t know him well. I didn’t think he would abandon me so quickly, but I also knew he probably wouldn’t keep me around for long. I hoped he would at least make it until I got my mother’s money
back.
“Is he ignoring you?” Isla barks, sitting up quickly. She glares at my phone as I also stare down at the device.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
But I do.
Deep down, I know he’s using this trip to get away from me. He regrets forming this relationship, and after my confession. the other day, he realized it was a mistake.
“Well, forget him, then,” Isla snaps. “If he wants to act like a sulking child, then you’re too good for him.”
She stands from the bed and plants her hands on her hips, and announces, “And now, we should take this time to go find your mother’s will. You said Jack interrupted you before you could finish searching your dad’s office, so we should go together this time!”
I cringe at her loud voice, but I agree. It would be a good idea to take someone with me. I thought about asking Ryan to go, but I don’t want to bother him while he’s working.
So, after watching two movies and planning out our infiltration of my dad’s house, Isla drives us to the house and uses my keys to let us in. If anyone, including Jack, comes, I’ll just keep searching.
No one has the right to keep me from finding my mother’s will.
Isla starts searching through my father’s desk while I begin on the bookshelf again. I vaguely remember where I stopped, so I start the row over again, pulling at each book.
Two rows down, I find an envelope in a large brown leather book. It’s already open so I don’t worry about unsealing it as I pull out the letter.
“Find something?”
I jump at Isla’s question and look at her over my
“Maybe.”
shoulder.
Carefully, I unfold the paper, two small square papers falling out. Isla bends down to pick them up while I read the short letter, “If you don’t want anyone to find out, send a monthly check of $1,000 to the following bank account. Don’t bother contacting anyone with this letter. I will easily ruin your family and your business.”
“Holy shit!” Isla gasps, then the two small images are shoved in my face. One is of my father with a woman who is definitely not my stepmother, and the other is a sonagram picture.
“Your dad is sleeping with some lady and got her pregnant?”
“I–I don’t know,” I stutter. “This was not what I expected to find.”
No wonder he’s been after more money lately. He’s having to pay this blackmailer. I mean, it’s his own fault for not being faithful to my stepmother, but wow.
“Let’s keep searching,” I tell Isla, but she stops me.
Taking out her phone, she snaps a picture of the infidelity evidence and then allows me to fold the pictures and letter back into the envelope.
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“Just in case we need it,” she says as I hide the envelope where I found it. I don’t need more trouble coming my way than I already have, so once it’s put back in its hiding place, I continue pulling on books.
Hopefully the next secret I uncover is where my mother’s will is hidden.
After nearly two hours of searching through the office, my father’s room, closet, and the guest room, we found nothing. No more secrets and no clue to where the will is.
“Maybe he took it to work?” Isla asks as we both slump back onto my bed. “Or he has it in a safety deposit box in the bank.”
“I hope not. His office at work, I can get into, but a safety deposit box would never happen,” I mutter.
Isla sits up and leans over me.
“Then that’s our next stop. While he’s gone, we’ll make an excuse to get into his work office and search it,” she tells me, rubbing her hands together. She’s like an evil genius having fun while planning nefarious deeds. “Also, it’ll give us an idea of whether he has it at all. Maybe he gave it to Jack for safe–keeping.”
I groan and close my eyes. If Jack has it, that’ll be another level of trouble.
“And of course, I’ll help you the whole way,” she says, and I look up at her. She’s the best friend a girl could ask for, and I’m lucky to have her. She did most of the search today since I wasn’t feeling well.
“Thanks, Isla. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“AW! You love me!”
Before I can stop her, she flops down beside me and gathers me in a big hug, squeezing.
I do. She’s the best, and at least I know she’ll never abandon me.
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