Reach (Love Me Now Series #2) | Complete

👑 Chapter 42 👑

Markey's POV

I poured myself into this project. My focus was on getting it done as quickly as I could, and making sure that everything was perfect. I missed my wife. I knew that the story had leaked. I saw my face in so many newspapers.

I tried to get to get in touch with Mariah, but she never replied. I know she was upset with me. I deserved it.
I wish we never would have gone to the bar that night.

I tried talking to Leya and Lacey, but they are upset with me right now too. Maybe if I can get this job done just a bit faster, I can go home and straighten it all out.

Something seemed fishy about the whole situation. I have had the same combinations of drinks I had that night before, and I have never gotten that drunk. I went to visit a friend of mines and they did some blood work. Turns out, someone had slipped something in my drink.

I tried to find Ryleigh a few days later, but she was already gone. We would be done with the house soon. What was supposed to take 2 months would be done in a months and a half.

There was so much I wanted to say to Mariah. I wanted to show her the video of Ryleigh slipping the drug in my drink. Ultimately, I took responsibility for going to the club and drinking. If I could would go back in time and stop is from going to the bar.

We would finally be finished today. I rolled up the plans for the last time. We would be showing the house in about an hour. The owner was so surprised when I called and told him things would be done earlier than planned.

Soon we were packing up and boarding the jet. I missed Mariah like crazy. I just wanted to talk to her. I needed to tell her the whole story, but first I needed to find a few answers.

When I made it in town I went to Leya's house. At first she didn't want to let me in, but I had a key. Once I entered the house she gave me the cold shoulder.

"Please talk to me Leya. Look, I know that you are mad that I hurt Mariah, but everything isn't as it seems. Do you know a girl named Ryleigh?"

She turned to me and eyed me skeptically.

"Why?"

"Does she look like this?" I pulled up the photo of us at the club. I was able to get a friend to sharpen the image so that I could see the face.

"What were you doing with Ryleigh? Key, did you forget that you were married?"

"I would never forget that in was married. I love Mariah alright. Something is not right. I need to get in touch with Ryleigh to get some answers."

Leya looked at me with confusion in her eyes.

"What do you need answers to?"

"I need to know why she slipped those drugs into my drink. I need to know what happened afterwards. "

Leya grabbed my arm and led me to her car. Wordlessly we got inside and she pulled off. After a few moments she said, "Double twin swear that I didn't knowingly cheat on Rye."

That was something we had only done as kids. A double twin swear was a promise to tell the absolute truth.

"Double twin swear," I said as we sped down the street. Soon we were pulling up to an apartment complex. We got out the car and I followed Leya up a flight of steps. I stood to the side as she knocked on the door.

When the door was opened we were greeted by the smiling face of a 6 year old girl. I could hear someone yelling, "Charlie, what did I tell you about opening the door?"

When Ryleigh saw Leya she smiled, but when she saw me that smile dropped.

"So you know who this is?" Leya asked pointing to me.

"I met him once before," Ryleigh replied. "Char, can you go to the room and put the cartoons on? I will be there on a bit."

"Give me one good reason why you would hurt my brother."

"I needed the money. I honestly had no idea he was your brother Leya. I swear."

"Did you know that he was Mariah's husband?"

"No, I wouldn't have done this if I did."

"Spill Ryleigh"

She looked away. He gaze seemed to move further that the walls of this room. I waited for her to speak.

"Do you remember the night you invited me to meet Lacey and Rye? Well halfway through the movie I got a call. They told me that my parents had been in a bad car accident. They told me to come to California right away. By the time I made it there, my parents were dead. My sister was barely hanging on, but the doctors were hopeful. When she finally pulled through, I began to wonder how I was going to take care of her. My salary alone wouldn't cut it. While I was there I saw him in the bar."

She looked my way.

"So you just decided to randomly blackmail me?"

"No, one of your commercials came on. At that point, I knew that you had money. $10,000 would be nothing to you, but it would secure the futures of both me and my little sister."

"You could have come to me, Ryleigh. We are friends aren't we?"

"And you would have just given it to me?"

"If I had it yes. If not, I would have found a way to get it. There was no need for you to blackmail anyone. When I became your friend, I became the person that you could go to for help. I became the person that would always have you back. How can I be that person, if you don't ask?"

"I'm sorry. I just felt so overwhelmed. I truly didn't mean to cause any harm."

"I'm sure I can get my wife to understand."

"I'm sorry Mark, but she is gone. When she saw the picture, the evidence was damming. She was hurt. The same day she found out, she bought a house. She said that she couldn't force you to want her."

"I need to find her. If I find her, will you tell her the truth Ryleigh? Please?"

"Yes, I will tell her everything."

"You hold up your end, and I will build you a house."

"After all the trouble I caused you would still help me, why?"

"If you help me, you would be righting a wrong. Also, that sister of yours reminds me of both of my sisters. I would do anything for them. What you did actually hurt me, but the reason behind it.... that's something that I can respect."

No matter where I searched, I couldn't find Mariah. It was like she just disappeared from the face of the earth. I didn't let that deter me. I would find my wife and make things right, even of it was the last thing I was able to do.