The Perfect Crime

Chapter 15: FAMILY SECRETS

While all deception requires secrecy, all secrecy is not meant to deceive.
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It was a little after six P.M when Detective Archer Finn pushed open the door to his house with his leg. His right hand was holding a stack of manilla files while his left precariously balanced a medium sized white box. Emilia, who had been anxiously awaiting his return, rushed to help. She tried to take the box but Archer pulled it away from her reach. Emilia scowled but settled for taking the files instead.

"Hey. How was your day?" Archer inquired.

"Dramatic. Yours?"

"Dramatic." Archer replied and for them, that answer was good enough. "You said you had another surprise?"

"Well yeah but she went out for a walk. She will be back soon."

"You brought me a woman? Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting?" Archer asked with a knowing smirk.

"What do you think I am–?" Emilia's jaw dropped and she had the good grace to blush. "No. God no. I wasn't meaning that." She smacked his arm. Archer pasted a  pained expression on his face and Emilia smacked him again. "You sleazy pervert."

"Hey, I was only kidding. And besides, it's good your "woman" is out because I also have a surprise for you."

Emilia beamed. "Is it chocolate flavored macaroons?"

"Well yes and no." Archer replied.

Emilia frowned, "Huh?"

"Open the first file in the stack."

"These are your divorce papers. Wait, Rosalia signed them?" Emilia asked after skimming through the contents of the file. She knew the real reason why Rosalia had signed the divorce papers, but she never thought that Rosalia would give up that easily. Emilia was expecting a fight. Maybe to Rosalia, her reputation was that important.

"Yep, she delivered them to the courthouse a few hours ago. Now open the box."

Emilia opened the box and her jaw dropped. The box contained twelve decadent chocolate flavored macaroons arranged in the shape of a flower. In the center of the flower, stood a square blue leatherette box. Emilia opened the box with shaking hands and a silver ring with a circular shaped ruby in the middle stared back at her. Her heart was hammering in her throat and tears were threatening to push out her eyes.

"I know some may say that this is too soon but I just couldn't wait. When you said yesterday, that you loved me, I knew that it was the perfect time."

"Archer–"

"Let me finish. Emilia Gardiner? Would you make me the happiest man in the universe and marry me?" Archer sensed her hesitation and added. "We don't have to get married now. I just want the whole world to know that you are mine. I–"

Emilia silenced him with a hot kiss. "Yes. Yes, ofcourse I will marry you." She smiled against his lips.

Someone knocked on the door and Archer and Emilia broke away like two teenagers who had been caught necking.

"Well, brace yourself Detective Archer Finn." Emilia said as she picked an imaginary piece of lint from his sweaty grey shirt. "It seems my surprise has finally arrived."

"Is it better than mine?"

"Well you will just have to see for yourself." Emilia smirked and opened the door.

Gabriel and Alea walked into the house with their hands intertwined. Emilia arched a suggestive brow and Alea's face turned the color of a ripe tomato. She quickly let go of Gabriel's hand and began to play with a loose string on her shirt.