Chapter 3: Rachel's Side of the Story
Against her better judgment, Emma agreed to meet Rachel.
They sat across from each other in a quiet coffee shop.
Rachel looked exhausted.
"I deserve your anger," she said.
"But I never wanted to destroy your marriage."
Emma folded her arms.
"Then explain why my husband was shirtless in your living room."
Rachel took a deep breath.
"The water heater burst that afternoon."
Mark had come over after Rachel called him for help because she didn't know any plumbers.
His shirt had been soaked while shutting off the leaking pipe.
Rachel had wrapped herself in a blanket because her clothes were also drenched.
The wine?
They had opened a bottle after finally stopping the flooding.
Emma wanted to believe her.
But one question remained.
"Then why did both of you look guilty?"
Rachel lowered her eyes.
"Because we were hiding the money."
She explained that Mark had sworn her to secrecy about Emma's father's debts.
When Emma walked in unexpectedly, both of them assumed she had discovered everything.
The appearance had looked unforgivable.
Their silence had made it even worse.
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Still, one painful fact remained.
Neither of them had trusted Emma with the truth.
