Chapter 8 - Rachel Comes Home
Rachel entered the greenhouse as if she owned it.
Adrian followed with the two fake medical workers.
Her eyes moved from Walter’s gun to Charles on the floor.
“You always make things messy,” she told Charles.
“You started the fire too early,” he snapped.
Lucas watched them turn on each other.
That was their weakness.
Neither trusted anyone.
Rachel looked at Lucas.
His wet work clothes were stained with soot. Blood ran from a cut above his eyebrow.
She showed no concern.
“I did love you in my own way,” she said.
“No. You loved how easy I was to use.”
Her smile disappeared.
“You signed the inheritance disclaimer. Legally, everything passes to me.”
“Legally?” Walter asked. “You are still married to Adrian.”
Rachel glanced toward Adrian.
For the first time, panic flickered across her face.
Lucas understood.
Adrian was never supposed to be discovered.
Bigamy could invalidate every marital document Rachel had convinced Lucas to sign.
Adrian stepped away from her.
“You said the first certificate was destroyed.”
“It was supposed to be.”
“You told me marrying him was temporary.”
Rachel hissed, “Stop talking.”
Walter raised the pistol.
“You will all remain here until the real police arrive.”
Rachel slowly removed her phone.
“I already called them.”
Blue lights appeared near the gate.
This time, marked patrol cars entered the property.
Rachel immediately transformed.
Her shoulders began shaking. Tears filled her eyes.
She ran toward the officers.
“My husband attacked my grandfather,” she cried. “He set the fire when Walter discovered he had been stealing!”
Lucas stared at her.
She had prepared everything.
The officers entered with weapons drawn.
Rachel pointed directly at Lucas.
“He has documents in his jacket. They’re forged.”
Charles silently slipped the pistol from Walter’s weak hand and kicked it toward Lucas’s feet.
An officer saw the weapon.
“Hands up!”
Lucas raised his hands.
Rachel buried her face against Adrian’s chest, pretending to sob.
Then one officer looked at Adrian.
“Ma’am, who is this man?”
Rachel hesitated.
Adrian answered first.
May you like
“I’m her legal husband.”
👉 Adrian’s single sentence cracked Rachel’s story—but Lucas was still standing beside a gun and a burning mansion.
