The Letter in the Drawer

Chapter Four: The Letter in the Drawer

Three weeks went by.

Olivia lived in the town of Millfield. It was three hours away from the city. She rented a room above a bakery. The landlady was really kind. Did not ask her any questions. Olivia paid her rent in cash every week. She told everyone that her name was Liv.

She worked in the mornings at the bakery. She cleaned tables and packed bread. In the afternoons she rested. The baby made her very tired all the time. She had morning sickness sometimes.. She still had not told anyone about the baby.

She kept her phone turned off. She wrote letters to her mother. She never sent them. She was scared that Marks people would find out where she was.

Every night she talked to her stomach. "We are safe here baby " she said. "No one knows us. It is you and me."

She thought she was finally free.

In the city Mark was not free.

He did not sleep much. He did not eat either. His office looked like a war room. There were maps and photos and notes over the wall. Olivias face was in the center of it all.

"She is gone " Daniel said one night. "We checked every bus and every train and every small town nearby. We did not find her. She is good at hiding, sir."

Mark looked at the photo of Olivia on his desk. Her eyes looked at him. They were calm but sad. "She is scared of me " he said quietly. "That is why she ran away."

"She does not trust you yet " Daniel said carefully. ". She will. If you give her time."

Mark nodded. He would give her all the time she needed. He would give her forever if she asked.. He needed to know that she was safe. He needed to know that the baby was safe.

He stood up. Walked to the window. The city lights looked cold that night.

"Keep watching her mother " he said. ". Do not follow her too closely. If Olivia contacts her I want to know. I will not take her by force Daniel. Not again."

"Yes, sir " Daniel said.

Meanwhile Olivias life in Millfield was simple. She woke up she worked she ate bread and soup. She slept. She talked to the baby every night.

One morning the landlady knocked on her door. "Liv, dear this came for you " she said. "There is no return address."

It was a letter. The envelope was plain white. Olivias hands shook when she took it.

She opened it after the landlady left.

Inside there was a sheet of paper. There was no name and no signature. Some typed words:

We know who you are Mrs. Sinclair. We know about the baby. The Sinclairs do not share what is theirs. You can run,. You cannot hide forever. Come home. We will bring you home.

Olivia dropped the letter. Her blood went cold.

Someone knew who she was. Someone had followed her. It was not Mark. This felt different. It was cold and threatening.

She picked up the letter again. Read it three times. The Sinclairs do not share what is theirs.

Was it Mark? No Mark never threatened her. He stayed across the street. He sent her soup. He gave her space.

Then who was it?

Her first thought was Sophia Bennett. Sophia was Marks ex. She hated Olivia for existing.

Her second thought was worse. Marks father, Victor Sinclair. He was the man who cared more about the family reputation than people.

Olivias hands shook hard that she had to sit down. She pressed her hands to her stomach. "Baby are we safe here?" she whispered.

She looked out the window. The street looked normal. People were. Kids were playing.. Now every stranger looked dangerous to her.

That night she could not sleep. She packed her bag again. Just in case. She would leave Millfield in the morning. She could not risk the babys safety.

At the time in the city Daniel burst into Marks office without knocking. His face was pale.

"Sir " Daniel said. "We found something. In Olivias apartment. It was hidden in a drawer under the floorboards."

Mark stood up fast. "What is it?" he asked.

Daniel held up a notebook. It was old. Had a broken lock. "It is Olivias diary " he said. "We almost missed it. She hid it before she left."

Mark took the notebook with hands. His heart was beating fast. A diary. Her private thoughts. Three years of being his wife. She never said a word to him.

He opened it slowly. The first page said: If anyone ever reads this I hope it means I am not alone anymore.

Marks throat felt tight. He turned the page.

The first entry was from three years ago the day she signed the marriage contract.

Today I became Mrs. Sinclair. I have never met my husband. I do not know if I will ever meet him. My dad says this will save our family. I said yes. I always say yes.. Tonight I cried in the bathroom so no one could hear. I am scared. I am 21. I just want to be loved for who I'm not for my last name.

Mark closed his eyes. Pain hit his chest like a knife. She was 21. A child.. She gave up her whole life for her family. While he was overseas counting down the days to divorce.

He turned another page. Then another. Each entry was short and simple and honest.

Year one: I saw his photo in a magazine today. He is handsome. Cold. I wonder if he hates me too.

Year two: My mom is sick. I sent her my paycheck. Mark does not know. He does not need to know. I am a name on paper.

Year three two months The contract ends soon. I should feel free.. I feel empty. Is this all my life will be?. Hiding?

Mark kept reading now. His hands shook.

Then he stopped at the entry. It was dated the night before she came to the mansion.

My dad says we need help again. I have to go see Mark tomorrow. I am terrified. Three years. He still does not know my face. What if he thinks I am just begging? What if he is cruel? I just want him to see me. Once. As a person. Not as a contract.

Mark closed the notebook. His chest hurt. He finally understood her. She never wanted his money. She never wanted to trap him. She just wanted to be seen.

"Where is she?" Mark whispered. "Where is my wife?"

Daniel shook his head. "We do not know, sir.. This diary... It proves she never planned to ask you for anything. She came that day because her father forced her."

Mark stood up. Walked to the wall of maps. He stared at all the pins. All the dead ends.

He put his hand on Olivias photo. "I see you now " he said quietly. "I see you Olivia."

He turned to Daniel and his eyes were no longer cold. They were burning. "Find her " he said. "Not with force. Find her. Tell her... Tell her I read it. Tell her I am sorry. Tell her I am not the man she thinks I am."

Daniel. Left fast.

Mark sat down. Opened the diary again. He read the page one more time.

I just want to be loved for who I'm

Outside the city was quiet.. Inside Mark something broke and rebuilt itself.

He would find her. He would make her believe she was loved. For her. Not for a contract. Not for a baby. For Olivia Hart.

He did not know that while he read her diary someone else was reading it too.

Sophia Bennett sat in a car holding a copy of the diary pages. She had paid someone to break into Olivias apartment before Marks men did.

She. Dialed a number.

"Mr. Sinclair " she said sweetly when Victor Sinclair answered. "I think you should see what your daughter-in-law wrote about your family. She is pregnant.. She is hiding. If the press finds out before we do..."

Victor was silent for one second. Then he said, "Send me everything."

Sophia hung up. Looked out the window.

Olivia was not safe. Not even, in Millfield. Mark had no idea what was coming.