The Second Marriage Chance

Sarah

“Let’s go inside,” I urged Josh.

Josh’s jaw clenched, the muscles tightening under his tanned skin. His eyes, usually a warm hazel, now darkened with a mix of anger, frustration, and something deeper and more complex. Despite his agitation, I didn’t feel threatened. There was an odd sense of safety in his presence, contradicting how he appeared. After a moment’s hesitation, he unclenched his hands and followed me in.

“Everything alright, Sarah?” Jane asked. “Hi, Josh!”

I guided him through the spacious living room to the dining area. I placed the water before him, hoping the cool drink would help calm his nerves. He needed to relax.

“Talk!” he demanded.

“Ms. Sarah, is everything okay here?” the guard asked, still uneasy with Josh after seeing him shout at me earlier.

“No problem at all. Please wait outside. We need to discuss something privately,” I requested of the guard, assuring him I was safe.

The man complied. “I’ll be just outside.”

I looked back at Josh, who was also looking at me. I spoke in a slow, lower voice, “I’m sorry… I had to understand why you’re hiding your identity. With so many people wanting me dead, I can’t afford to be careless.”

“So, what did you discover about me?” His tone was still sharp.

“Not everything, trust me… I-I learned your real name is Daniel Caldwell, and you’re the man Megan ran away with.”

His face soured. He squinted at me. “And knowing my connection to her doesn’t frighten you?”

I countered with a question, holding his gaze. “Should I be afraid of you? Josh, if it weren’t for you, I might still be wallowing in despair over a nonexistent illness! You helped me see the truth. Honestly, I haven’t been able to think clearly. I thought I was dying, and that belief tainted every decision I made.”

“Then why did you investigate me?” His hand slammed down on the table.

“Like I said, I have to be careful…”

“But I warned you it’s better that you don’t know anything!”

“Well, that’s what made me curious. Why did you say that? It’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. You had to know I’d be curious…” I pouted, turning the blame back on him.

He looked incredulous. “You’re unbelievable!”

“I’m sorry… I just wanted to know what you’re doing in Philip’s group. Why did you become my ex-husband’s subordinate? Or is it because of Megan?”

He clenched his jaw. “I don’t have a choice, Sarah! That’s all you need to know. I’ve told you, it’s dangerous. The less you know, the safer you are.”

“I-is it because of Mariano?” I stammered.

Josh’s mouth hung open in disbelief. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to be so informed. “You are the most moronic woman I’ve ever met, really!”

“Ouch!” I winced, “Your words hurt me!”

He shook his head. “Since you seem to know so much already, I’ll fill in the gaps… Mariano was the one who helped me after Megan left me with nothing… I told you about my mother’s struggle with schizophrenia-she’s the reason I became a doctor…

“But I intentionally omitted details about my mother from the hospital where I’m employed as a resident. I had hoped… I had hoped to keep that aspect of my life separate from my professional duties.”

Josh’s gaze darkened, clouded by profound sadness.

“Megan played the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law, caring for my mother while I saved lives at the hospital. Eighteen months ago, my mother… she passed away.” He paused, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat.

“Sarah, Megan inherited everything-my family’s legacy, properties, and money all vanished in the blink of an eye.”

A chill crept up my spine.

“At first, I was too numb to comprehend what was happening. I thought, foolishly, that maybe it was some terrible mistake. But no, it was all part of her plan. She had manipulated my vulnerable mother, God knows how! She reported me to the hospital board, claiming I was unfit to practice because of a ‘hereditary predisposition’ to mental illness. When they found traces of antidepressants in my system-prescribed to help me cope with losing my mother-they painted me as unstable, a risk to patients.”

I was horrified!

“My family’s wealth, my hard-earned reputation, my license to practice-my very identity as a doctor. I was left with nothing! I didn’t know where to turn, how to begin again.”

I couldn’t utter a word.

“That’s when Mariano stepped in, wanting someone to keep an eye on your husband, and he thought I was the perfect pawn because of my history with Megan. But honestly, I want to strangle that woman with my bare hands! She’s living off my money, Sarah! The money she’s using to live in luxury all came from various people! She did all of this to be with Philip Cornell.”

“She’s not just creepy,” I said, my voice shaking with disgust. “She’s a monster.”

Josh fell silent, his eyes ablaze with fury.

“Why didn’t you report Megan?”

“I tried, Sarah! But what my mother signed was legally binding. She truly transferred everything to Megan. The humiliation I endured has kept me from returning to my profession. Moreover, I’m entangled with Mariano like some obedient dog. Right now, my sole desire is to inflict upon Megan the same pain she inflicted upon me-to strip her of everything she took, to drive her to madness!”

Now that I think about it, I never delved into Megan’s background. I knew her before I married Philip, but I’ve never met her parents, and I’m unaware of her origins. All I know is that she’s a socialite, and her parents are supposedly on a cruise.

Have the Cornells ever met Megan’s parents? Is any of it even true?

Josh’s eyes narrowed. “Megan’s current objective is to win Philip over, which is why she’s lurking at Serenity Pines Estate, waiting to pounce.”

“As for Dr. Smith, you mentioned Philip took Madam Cornell to the island? Are they with Megan?”

“No, unfortunately. The witch is at Serenity Pines Estate. Regarding your ex’s whereabouts, I’ve only heard he’s ‘distracting’ his mother.”

‘Distracting? How?’ I wanted to inquire, but Josh continued regardless.

“My colleague mentioned your ex-husband meeting with an investigator recently…”

I struggled to piece together Philip’s actions, the puzzle incomplete until Jane burst into the dining area, her face drained of color.

Simultaneously, my phone buzzed insistently on the table, Jakob’s name flashing on the screen.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“S-Sarah!” Jane exclaimed, holding her laptop with tears streaming down her face. “You need to see this!”

“What is it?”

“An anonymous blogger exposed Madam Cornell! The article is spreading like wildfire across social media and news feeds.”

I was torn between reading the article Jane mentioned, or answering Jakob’s call. Perhaps that’s why he’s reaching out, so I chose to answer his call, placing the phone to my ear.

“Jake?”

“Your ex-husband just exposed his mother while she’s vacationing on a tropical island. I doubt she’s aware of what’s unfolding at Highland Hills.”

“What?” It finally clicked. “You mean…”

“Yes,” Jakob confirmed. “Philip is the anonymous blogger, Sarah!”

The revelation hit me like a physical blow. I never imagined Philip would expose his mother in such a manner, especially considering the risk to Luminary Productions. Wasn’t that the reason why I felt unsupported?

“Do you know why this has garnered so much attention?” Jakob queried. “Sarah, you’re not her first victim. Madam Cornell has been playing this game for decades. Every mistress of Chairman Cornell, every potential threat to Philip’s inheritance-she’s eliminated them all-including those unborn babies!”

His words echoed in my head as the room began to spin. What a wicked woman! My breathing grew labored, and my vision blurred.

That woman, that monster, had been willing to destroy anyone to ensure Philip’s place.

Amidst the chaos, I heard the cries of a baby. The phone slipped from my grasp as darkness encroached on my gaze.

“Sarah!”