Chapter 4 - The Best Man's Confession
Eli backed into the darkest corner of the closet, holding her breath.
The door creaked open, revealing the tall silhouette of Uncle Marcus.
He quickly stepped inside and locked the door behind him.
"Eli, are you hurt?" he asked in a frantic, hushed whisper.
She turned her phone flashlight on and shined it directly in his face.
"Stay away from me!" she yelled.
"I know what you did to my mother!"
Marcus closed his eyes, a look of profound guilt washing over his aging face.
"I didn't hurt her, Eli."
"I hid her."
Eli lowered the phone slightly, her mind spinning with confusion.
"Ten years ago, your father’s company got tangled up with a dangerous cartel," Marcus explained quickly.
"They put a hit on your mother to send him a message."
"I staged the car crash so they would think she was dead."
Tears streamed down Eli's face as she processed the heavy burden of his words.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she cried softly.
"Because if Richard knew, he would have looked for her, and they would have killed them both," he pleaded.
"But Vanessa found out, and she works for them."
"She's marrying him to gain full control of the company assets."
Marcus grabbed Eli’s hand, his grip tight and urgent.
"We have to get you out of here right now."
A sudden gunshot shattered the quiet air outside the closet.
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Marcus looked down in shock as a dark red stain blossomed across his white tuxedo shirt.
He collapsed to the floor, revealing Vanessa standing in the doorway with a silenced pistol.
