The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 22

**TITLE: Terms Were Unspoken by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 22: Stay Hidden**

Stay Hidden.

With a deliberate calmness, Nathaniel returned the documents to the safe, the heavy door clanging shut as he locked it, just seconds before the police officer arrived.

“Mr. Thorne?” Officer Philips greeted him, the familiar face of the officer primarily tasked with monitoring the mansion.

“Look what I found,” Nathaniel exclaimed, gesturing toward the safe as though he had just stumbled upon a hidden treasure. “Apparently, this panel here moves to the side.”

The officer’s brow furrowed in concern. “I can contact a locksmith if you’d like.”

“Let’s try a few combinations first,” Nathaniel replied, his heart racing as he awaited Officer Philips’ reaction. The documents detailing Victor’s tax evasion were crucial evidence, and they had to be handled with utmost care. Verification was still needed, and the last thing they could afford was for the evidence to be dismissed as a mere fabrication.

Feigning confidence, Nathaniel pretended to unlock the safe, muttering the significance of the numbers as he went. “It’s not Victor’s birthday, nor is it Roselind’s.”

“Perhaps it’s their daughter’s birthday?” the officer offered hesitantly. “Your… um, ex-wife?”

“Let’s give that a shot,” Nathaniel replied, a flicker of hope igniting within him.

Deep down, he already knew the answer. He had witnessed Serena deftly open the safe before; entering her birthday would surely yield the desired results. If successful, the documents would be admissible in court, a crucial turning point in their battle against Victor.

Serena had handled the documents earlier, but she had been careful to wear gloves, ensuring that her fingerprints would remain absent from any incriminating evidence.

Officer Philips was the first to examine the contents. As he sifted through the papers, his face lit up with recognition. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, passing the files over to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel scanned the documents, feigning surprise as he flipped through the tax evasion papers. He pointed them out to the officer, his mind racing with the implications of their discovery.

“Alright, I’ll report these to the station first before handing you the research paper,” Officer Philips stated, gathering the files with a sense of urgency.

“Understandable,” Nathaniel replied, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps.

“Mr. Thorne?” Just then, the second officer, Officer Lopez, arrived, a look of determination on his face. “Sir, your assistant is here.”

Gavin appeared at the door, a broad smile on his face as he was escorted by the officer. “Officer Philips, I brought dinner for you and Officer Lopez. It’s the best roasted chicken in town! I’ve set up the food on the patio so you both can enjoy a proper meal.”

The officers’ faces brightened at the mention of food. Before heading back to the mansion’s entrance, they turned to Nathaniel, who offered them a faint smile. “I’ll just use the bathroom for a moment.”

They nodded, following Gavin, and once the coast was clear, Nathaniel swiftly closed the study door behind him and opened the closet.

Inside, Serena was taking deep, measured breaths, her anxiety palpable.

“Let’s go,” he urged, his voice firm but gentle. “We need to move quickly.”

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