Divorce Papers or Death Certificate Chapter 6

**Evelyn's POV**

Marcus whips around when he hears what Kaley said, his eyes sharp. "What?"

Kaley flinches but quickly slips back into that fragile act, stepping closer. "I said... I mean, we can be together now. You've been so amazing to me all this time. I know you feel—"

"Stop talking." Marcus cuts her off, his voice ice cold. "I'm married. To your sister."

Kaley freezes.

"I looked after you because you saved my life once." Marcus's words come out slow and deliberate. "That's it. Whether she's here or not, you and me? Never gonna happen."

Kaley's face goes white. I'm floating in midair, watching the shock and resentment twist her expression. I feel nothing.

My parents hear the commotion and come out of the living room.

Dad catches the tail end and his face darkens. "Your sister just died! And you're already trying to get with her husband? Do you have any idea how this looks?"

He doesn't care that I'm dead. He cares how it looks.

Mom waves it off. "Oh, come on. I don't see what's wrong with it. Marcus has taken care of Kaley for years. Of course she caught feelings. And... Evelyn's gone. Life goes on."

"Are you serious right now?" Dad's voice rises. "If word gets out, we'll be ruined!"

"Since when does reputation pay the bills? Kaley's been sick. Someone needs to take care of her..."

I watch them argue. Not once has anyone said my name.

Marcus watches this family fight. Dad's yelling about reputation. Mom's calculating the angles. Kaley's wiping away tears in the corner.

He feels suddenly, deeply exhausted.

Images flash through his mind. Evelyn always sitting alone in corners. Head down when they yelled at her, never fighting back. Silent when they blamed her.

He thought it was manipulation. Playing victim. But now... maybe it was just giving up?

"Enough!" He cuts through their arguing.

All three of them freeze.

"I'm only saying this once." Marcus's voice is flat. "I looked after Kaley because she's Evelyn's sister. And yeah, because she saved my life."

He looks at all three of them. "But that's it. If I gave you the wrong idea, my bad."

He turns and walks out.

Kaley tries to follow, but Dad grabs her arm.

I float behind Marcus, staring at his back. Can't wait to see your face when you find out the truth.

"Right now I need to focus on her." Marcus tosses that over his shoulder and drives off.

A few days later, the funeral happens.

Marcus invites everyone. Business executives, socialites, politicians. Nearly every important person in the city shows up.

Black suits, white flowers, solemn music. Everything looks proper.

Guests file past the memorial, staring at the unfamiliar face in the photo. Most of them didn't even know Marcus was married.

Marcus stands in the center of the room and tells everyone, "This is my wife. I'm the reason she's dead. I'll spend the rest of my life making up for it."

Dead silence.

Everyone here knows about Marcus and Kaley. The way he doted on her at charity events. Those intimate photos all over social media. They all assumed Kaley was his girlfriend.

Now Marcus is suddenly saying "my wife," and guests are shooting each other confused looks.

Someone opens their mouth to ask, takes one look at Marcus's face, and shuts it.

The funeral ends in this weird, suffocating tension.

After the last guest leaves, Marcus suddenly remembers. Evelyn's stuff should still be in her room.

He heads back to the house and goes straight upstairs.

Passing Kaley's room, he hears a hushed voice inside.

"I said enough! The rest of the money's in your account!"

It's Kaley's voice, but nothing like her usual sweet tone. Harsh. Vicious. "Stop calling me! She's dead now. This stays between us. Nobody finds out about this!"

She pauses. Her voice drops even colder. "Or you're done."