CHAPTER THREE—THE TRUTH UNVEILED

CHAPTER THREE—THE TRUTH UNVEILED  

Detective Jemma sat across from Marcus in the dimly lit interrogation room of the old mansion. The single bulb hanging from the ceiling flickered ominously, casting sharp shadows across her stern face. Her eyes bore into Marcus, who slouched in his chair, trembling and avoiding her gaze.

“Enough games, Marcus,” Jemma said coldly, her voice sharp like a blade. “You’ve been hiding long enough. I want the truth—every last detail. What really happened to Victor?”

Marcus wrung his hands nervously, his lips trembling as he tried to form words. “I-I already told you... it was an accident—”

“Don’t insult my intelligence,” Jemma snapped, slamming her palm on the table. Marcus flinched. “Accidents don’t end with bodies hidden and bloody secrets buried for years. What did you do?” Her voice was low but menacing, each word cutting through the silence like a whip.

Marcus broke into a cold sweat, his wild eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. “I never meant for it to happen! It was Victor—he pushed me too far, always taunting, always taking credit for my ideas! He thought he was better than me, but he wasn’t!” His voice cracked, desperation creeping in.

Jemma leaned forward, her face just inches from his. “So you thought you’d make him pay, didn’t you? You lashed out, and when it was over, you didn’t even have the courage to own up to your crime.” Her tone was icy, each word dripping with accusation.

Marcus’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. “I didn’t mean to kill him... It was in the heat of the moment. He accused me—he said I was worthless—and I just... lost control. He fell, hit his head on the fireplace. I panicked.”

Jemma’s piercing gaze didn’t falter. “And the cover-up? The hidden journal, the lies? That doesn’t sound like panic, Marcus. That sounds like a plan.”

Marcus buried his face in his hands. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I couldn’t let them think I was a monster. Victor always had the spotlight—I thought... maybe without him, I could finally have a chance.”

Jemma straightened up, her expression hardening. “Your jealousy turned you into exactly what you feared—a monster. And all you’ve done since then is run and hide, leaving Victor’s memory to rot in this mansion.”

The words hit Marcus like a hammer, and he crumpled in his chair, tears streaming down his face. “I regret it every day,” he whispered hoarsely. “But it’s too late to fix anything.”

Jemma leaned back, her voice quieter but no less cutting. “It’s not too late, Marcus. You can’t bring Victor back, but you can give him justice. You can tell the truth, once and for all.”

Marcus looked up, his eyes red and swollen. For the first time, he met Jemma’s gaze and gave a small, broken nod. “I’ll confess,” he said softly. “It’s time.”

Jemma stood, her menacing demeanor softening slightly. “Good. The lies end here.” As she walked out of the room, her mind was already racing with the steps to bring Marcus to justice and finally let Victor’s story be heard.

The dark chapter of the mansion’s history was coming to an end, but Jemma knew the fight for redemption had only just begun.

THINGS TOOK A TURUN WHEN MARCUS DISAPPEARED AFTER THIS MEETING.