My Best Friend’s Secret Plan, My Dead Husband’s Watching Eyes Chapter 03

My Best Friend’s Secret Plan, My Dead Husband’s Watching Eyes Chapter 03

I smiled.

Vanessa’s face relaxed, like she’d won.

“Once you’re married, you’re family. And family doesn’t keep score over who pays what.”

Miles grinned. “Exactly. We’re family. Don’t nickel-and-dime this.”

“As for Graham, just let him go. You couldn’t stand how controlling he was. He’s gone now. That’s a good thing. Now there’s nothing standing between us anymore.”

[A wife bankrolling another man with her dead husband’s money. Your late husband must be losing his mind right now.]

[Stop digging your own grave. Tell them both to get lost. Now.]

“Are you done?”

Miles froze, then nodded.

A second later, I slapped him across the face.

Vanessa gasped. She opened her mouth, and I slapped her too.

“Yeah, you both helped me through the worst time of my life. I’ll give you that. But you don’t get to talk about him like that. I loved him. I always loved him. I never hated him.”

“Vanessa, you keep spinning these lies. You know what’s funny? If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were saying all that on purpose, like Graham was standing right here and you wanted him to hear every word. Like you wanted him to hate me.”

Vanessa’s eyes went wide. Sweat beaded along her hairline.

“Graham’s dead. Why would he be here?”

“And you did say all that. You just… you forgot…”

I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. Every word out of their mouths was another knife aimed at Graham, assuming he was really here, and I needed them to stop talking.

I turned and left.

Miles called after me.

“Maren! I’ve already told everyone on both sides. Invitations went out. The wedding is in two days. Just go home and cool off.”

“Your mom’s not well. Don’t put her through this.”

I went back to the house, the one Graham and I had shared.

The staff kept to the ground floor. I was alone on the second floor. I lay in bed, and the room felt like there was no warmth left in it.

[Your late husband has been staring at you.]

That one stopped my breath.

I scrambled for a photo of him, clutched it to my chest, and whispered into the dark.

“Graham, it’s you. It’s always been you. No one else. Not ever.”

Somehow, I fell asleep. And Graham was there.

Those dark eyes, fixed on me, unblinking. His cold fingers gripped my chin.

The same words, over and over. “You lied to me.”

My mouth moved but nothing came out. His hand closed around my throat.

I bolted upright with a gasp, soaked in sweat, and threw myself at the mirror.

No bruises. But my throat still felt like it was being squeezed shut.

No.

I didn’t take the ring. Graham wouldn’t hurt me.

I splashed cold water on my face and told myself to breathe.

Miles hadn’t just invited family. He’d sent invitations to his old classmates, and worse, to the influencers and bloggers who’d been following my life with Graham.

A new man three months after her husband’s funeral.

The internet made up its mind fast. Graham had been trapped by a gold-digger, and now she was cashing in. They swarmed my accounts, calling me a black widow.

I was shaking with rage.

I posted a video swearing I’d never remarry. Nobody bought it.

I went to my mom’s house, thinking I’d feel safer there.

My mom had cooked everything I liked. I picked up my fork, and the floating comments scrolled past again.

[Your mom’s furious you won’t help pay for your brother’s wedding. So she sold you out. There’s a sedative in the food. The second you pass out, she’s keeping you locked up until the wedding.]

[Miles paid her $75,000. This time, you’re getting married, whether you want to or not. And your late husband is about to snap.]

My hand froze in midair.

I’d refused to pay because my brother’s fiancée was running a scam. I wasn’t going to let her bleed the whole family dry.

Besides, Graham had already given my family more money than they’d ever needed.

He always said taking care of my family was his job. He didn’t want me carrying that weight.

And my mom sold me out for $75,000.

“Mom, I’m not marrying Miles.”

My mom’s face twisted. She grabbed her chest like I’d knocked the wind out of her.

Guilt hit me before I could stop it. But then she opened her mouth.

“Then who are you going to marry? Have you seen what they’re saying about you online? Everyone thinks you’re some kind of black widow. If you don’t marry Miles, who else is going to take you with all this baggage?”

“The venue’s booked. The invitations are out. You back out now, and everyone’s going to say you’ve completely lost your mind. Is that what you want?”

“I’m your mother. I know what’s best for you. You’re marrying him, end of discussion.”

My fingers tightened around the fork. Something inside me went cold.

“I’m leaving.”

I stood up. The room tilted. Then everything went black.

The last thing I heard was my mom’s voice, pleased with herself. “Good thing I added some to the diffuser, too.”

She locked me in the attic for two days.

The floating comments didn’t appear once the entire time.

Not until my mom dragged me to the wedding.

The room was packed. But I only saw one person, the one face I could never forget.