The First Sound I Heard In Three Years Was His Lie Chapter 06
This time, Graham did not hear a busy signal.
What he heard was worse: Mara’s number was no longer in service.
He immediately called his parents.
“Mom, Dad, Mara’s gone. She took everything with her. I think she might actually be serious this time.”
Graham’s mother sounded completely unconcerned.
“The court notice gives you seven days to respond, and your civil ceremony is in six. She wants you to show up and marry her. Once you do, she’ll drop the claim.”
“I know exactly what she’s doing.”
Her explanation sounded reasonable, but dread still squeezed the air from Graham’s lungs.
He had no way to reach Mara, so all he could do was wait until the day of their civil ceremony and try to talk things through with her.
Over the next several days, Tessa repeatedly pressured him to find Mara and deal with the online backlash.
At first, he patiently reassured her. Eventually, he stopped responding to her messages and ignored her calls
altogether.
On the sixth day, Graham arrived early with his documents and waited outside the Office of Civil Marriages.
He stayed until the office closed for the day, but Mara never appeared.
Graham returned to his parents’ house with a grim expression.
Tessa was sitting on the couch, eating orange segments Graham’s mother had peeled for her.
When she saw Graham, she pouted.
“Graham, make Mara apologize to me tonight and tell everyone I never stole her work. Then I’ll forgive you for ignoring me all week.”
“Otherwise, I’m never speaking to you again.”
Graham’s mother immediately took her side.
“If Mara refuses to do what you say, she can forget about ever being part of this family. Let’s see what she
does then.”
“I watched you grow up. You’re like a daughter to me. I won’t let anyone mistreat you.”
Graham’s father frowned when he saw Graham return alone.
“Why are you back alone? Where’s Mara? You two got married today, and she’s already acting like she’s too
good for us?”
“You can’t keep indulging her. She’s completely out of control.”
Graham slammed the door.
His expression was thunderous, and his chest heaved with every breath.
“I waited all day. Mara never showed up.”
“She’s trying to ruin us!”
“I asked a friend to look into it. Mara submitted proof that I borrowed the money. She recorded me asking her for it and kept the recording for three years!”
The room went dead silent except for the ticking of the old wall clock.
Graham’s mother shot to her feet.
“You mean we have to pay back the entire $300,000?”
“What else do you think it means?” Graham snapped through clenched teeth.
His mother’s hands curled into fists.
“Where are we supposed to get that kind of money? Our savings and the house together still wouldn’t cover
it!”
Graham’s father pulled a cigarette from the pack and lit it.
“Is there any way to reach Mara? Talk to her calmly. This isn’t a small amount of money.”
“You’ve taken care of her for three years. She can’t be heartless enough to do this to you.”
Graham’s mother scoffed.
“Mara is an ungrateful little snake. You still expect her to appreciate anything?”
Tessa slammed her palm against the table, sending the peeled orange segments tumbling onto the floor.
“Is Mara trying to destroy me? The entire internet is calling me a thief!”
“That bitch!”
“Do you have any idea how much money she’s going to cost me?”
Graham looked at her.
“Tessa, can you help us pull together some money? We need to repay the $300,000 first.”
“No!” she blurted out without hesitation.
The words had barely left her mouth when all three of them stared at her in disbelief.
