Second in Silence Chapter 09

Second in Silence Chapter 09

I sent the recording to Emily.

I did not bother with what happened next.

The last product was a smash hit, constantly selling out.

This time, the big shots decided to upgrade it for a different crowd, aiming to serve them even better.

I thought I would deal with it once I was done with my work bubble.

It was only after I emerged that Olivia filled me in.

The Wallace family was in deep trouble.

For some reason, Emily had lost it.

She mutilated Charles in his sleep and flushed his beyond-saving private parts down the toilet.

When Margaret heard that, her health took a nosedive. It was another stroke.

She went from bad to worse, then bedridden, her speech slurred and face twisted.

Emily, cold to Charles’ begging, terminated her pregnancy, cutting off the Wallace family tree.

Finally, Olivia’s eyes were on me.

“Look at her, then at yourself. She knew when to cut ties, when to strike back.

“You’re not quite there yet.”

I lifted my wine glass and took a sip. “Why get my hands dirty with illegal stuff?”

Olivia asked, “Are you saying you…”

I just smiled, keeping my cards close to my chest.

I thought that was the end of it, but the next day, I heard Emily was dead.

The Wallace family was bankrupt, their child hurt, and the matriarch critically ill.

It was one catastrophe after another.

It pushed Charles, a man of limited fortitude, over the edge.

In a twist no one saw coming, he ran Emily over with his car and took off.

A day went by, and the cops were still clueless.

Olivia’s voice crackled with urgency over the phone. “Something’s not right. Charles has gone into hiding. He might be coming after you, you know?”

“Stay home for the next few days, okay? It’s safer that way. I’ll make sure you get everything you need.”

“With cameras on every corner, Charles won’t be able to hide for long. He’s bound to be caught any minute now.”

Olivia had barely hung up when a loud knock rattled my door. I did not bother opening it. Instead, I peered through the digital peephole and saw the unmistakable silhouette.

“Charles, I can see you out there. Don’t mess up again. Turn yourself in, and maybe you can get a second chance,” I called out.

The knocking grew fiercer as Charles heard me. He was cursing up a storm, but I tuned him out, still pushing for him to give up.

My words seemed to light a fire in him, and he started slamming against the door with his whole body.

I watched, stone-faced, counting silently to myself.

By the count of 50, the cops burst onto the scene, grabbing Charles before he knew what hit him.

I let out the breath I did not know I was holding, cracked the door open, and thanked the officers.

Charles shot me a look that could curdle milk, wishing he could rip me apart.

I just shrugged innocently. “I told you to turn yourself in. You wouldn’t listen. What else could I do?”

I watched as they carted Charles off, then turned back inside.

After that, my life went back to being worry-free.