Chapter 12 - The Ink That Bleeds
The words of the note repeated like a dark chant in David's head: Did she tell you why she helped me dig it up? The psychological trap was masterfully designed. If Rebecca was alive and lying, she was doing it to destroy his trust in Elena on his wedding day. But if Rebecca was telling the truth—if Elena had known Rebecca, if Elena had been involved in whatever dark secret lay buried in his past—then his entire current life was a lie constructed by two master manipulators. He looked at Elena’s flawless face, the white veil, the diamonds, the immaculate lace gown. How had she come into his life two years ago? She had appeared so conveniently, a sympathetic listener who knew exactly how to soothe his trauma, who never asked too many questions about his past, who stepped seamlessly into the role of mother for Lily. Was it real love, or was it a cold, calculated infiltration? The doubt was a fast-acting acid, eating away at every warm memory, every shared laugh, every quiet night they had spent together. He stepped back, away from her outstretched hand, his posture turning entirely defensive.
