Her Hidden Secret - Chapter 6: Chapter 6
You are reading Her Hidden Secret, Chapter 6: Chapter 6. Read more chapters of Her Hidden Secret.
The cops wouldn't get here fast enough—Vincent Lombardi would hear about this long before they showed up.
And if he found out I was the one who exposed him? A guy like that had no limits.
I'll admit it—I was scared shitless.
Everyone loves to talk about justice, but how many people actually have the balls to risk their neck for it?
Lost in my head, I wandered back to the convenience store.
This time, I wasn't here to distract myself. I just needed a quiet spot to think.
Vivian Langley took one look at me and knew something was wrong. She was at my side in seconds. "What's going on?"
"Nothing..." I shook my head weakly.
Running the only store on-site without getting hassled by the creepers—let alone Vincent Lombardi—meant this woman wasn't just some random shopkeeper.
Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
Why was everyone around me so damn complicated?
Even knowing Vivian wasn't ordinary, I stayed. Right now, this was the only safe place I had left.
She pulled me into the back room and kept her voice low. "You're in trouble. Tell me. If I can help, I will."
"Vivian, I—"
I hesitated, torn between trusting her and protecting myself.
I hated how weak I was, how indecisive. But what choice did I have?
I was nobody. No connections, no power. If this got out, I was dead.
"I need a drink," I muttered.
"Easy. Tonight's on me."
She didn't push, just brought out two bottles of liquor, peanuts, and chicken feet.
I drank in silence while Vivian sat beside me, not saying a word.
Then the alcohol hit, and everything came crashing down.
I broke completely, covering my face as I sobbed.
Vivian moved closer, pulling me into her arms.
Only then did she ask again, "Roland, talk to me. Keeping it inside will destroy you."
"Vivian... am I useless?"
I clung to her, drowning in self-loathing.
"I heard something unforgivable, but I'm too scared to expose it. If they're cornered, they'll kill me."
"I'm a coward. I'm weak. I don't even deserve to call myself a man."
She kept stroking my back. "It's okay, Roland. Sometimes staying alive is the only way to protect the truth."
"You're a good kid. If I ever find my daughter, I'd want her to marry someone like you. Don't cry..."
After the breakdown, the weight in my chest finally eased.
I took a deep breath and threw back another shot.
The alcohol burned away my hesitation. Looking back at my fear, I felt like an idiot.
What was I so afraid of? Just do it!
I pulled out my phone and messaged an old college buddy in another city, spilling everything.
For my own safety, I added:
I'm still at the site. If you tip off Vincent's connections, I'm dead. Be careful, man.
I even attached last night's recording as proof.
The second I hit send, relief flooded through me.
I hugged Vivian tight. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd still be stuck."
But she didn't answer.
Her eyes were locked on my phone screen—on the message I'd just sent.
Then her whole body started shaking.
Her grip on my arms turned desperate.
And if he found out I was the one who exposed him? A guy like that had no limits.
I'll admit it—I was scared shitless.
Everyone loves to talk about justice, but how many people actually have the balls to risk their neck for it?
Lost in my head, I wandered back to the convenience store.
This time, I wasn't here to distract myself. I just needed a quiet spot to think.
Vivian Langley took one look at me and knew something was wrong. She was at my side in seconds. "What's going on?"
"Nothing..." I shook my head weakly.
Running the only store on-site without getting hassled by the creepers—let alone Vincent Lombardi—meant this woman wasn't just some random shopkeeper.
Suddenly, I felt exhausted.
Why was everyone around me so damn complicated?
Even knowing Vivian wasn't ordinary, I stayed. Right now, this was the only safe place I had left.
She pulled me into the back room and kept her voice low. "You're in trouble. Tell me. If I can help, I will."
"Vivian, I—"
I hesitated, torn between trusting her and protecting myself.
I hated how weak I was, how indecisive. But what choice did I have?
I was nobody. No connections, no power. If this got out, I was dead.
"I need a drink," I muttered.
"Easy. Tonight's on me."
She didn't push, just brought out two bottles of liquor, peanuts, and chicken feet.
I drank in silence while Vivian sat beside me, not saying a word.
Then the alcohol hit, and everything came crashing down.
I broke completely, covering my face as I sobbed.
Vivian moved closer, pulling me into her arms.
Only then did she ask again, "Roland, talk to me. Keeping it inside will destroy you."
"Vivian... am I useless?"
I clung to her, drowning in self-loathing.
"I heard something unforgivable, but I'm too scared to expose it. If they're cornered, they'll kill me."
"I'm a coward. I'm weak. I don't even deserve to call myself a man."
She kept stroking my back. "It's okay, Roland. Sometimes staying alive is the only way to protect the truth."
"You're a good kid. If I ever find my daughter, I'd want her to marry someone like you. Don't cry..."
After the breakdown, the weight in my chest finally eased.
I took a deep breath and threw back another shot.
The alcohol burned away my hesitation. Looking back at my fear, I felt like an idiot.
What was I so afraid of? Just do it!
I pulled out my phone and messaged an old college buddy in another city, spilling everything.
For my own safety, I added:
I'm still at the site. If you tip off Vincent's connections, I'm dead. Be careful, man.
I even attached last night's recording as proof.
The second I hit send, relief flooded through me.
I hugged Vivian tight. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I'd still be stuck."
But she didn't answer.
Her eyes were locked on my phone screen—on the message I'd just sent.
Then her whole body started shaking.
Her grip on my arms turned desperate.
End of Her Hidden Secret Chapter 6. Continue reading Chapter 7 or return to Her Hidden Secret book page.