Fiona

Thomas Malcolm Reiner was a highly sought-after bachelor in those times. Like all Reiner men, he was gorgeous and charming. True, his wealth added to his allure, but I didn't marry him for his money; I married him because I loved him. At least, that's what a part of me thought. I was young and ignorant when I found out I was expecting a child. In contrast to popular belief. Thomas was the one who insisted on getting married. I wanted to end my pregnancy and pursue a career as an actress. He persuaded me to marry him and take up the name Mrs Reiner. Even if his father, the senior Reiner, was against it. It wasn't until later that I realised Thomas was a spoiled brat. He was a drug addict and a playboy who dabbled in all forms of immorality.
He also had affairs with the wives of some of his executives. Paul Munoz, his right-hand man, had a lovely wife named Angela. I had suspected Thomas was having an affair with her for a long time.

Thomas and I had quarreled that night. I charged him with having extramarital affairs. He had been ignoring me and was upset about something. He had lost interest in the company and was always busy debating about his debauchery. If I complained, he slapped me and threatened to divorce me and leave William and me out without a penny. He then stormed out of the house, furious.
I was enraged, and I wasn't about to let him get away. So, I followed him. He proceeded to Angela's place, as I had suspected. Paul was most likely away. Because Paul was the company's top accountant, they were granted a very opulent double-story house. I parked my car a short distance away from the house and walked up to the living room window. Glass-paneled walls ran the length of their bottom floor. I crept around the back of the house, concealed in some bushes, and peered into the living room. Thomas was trying to seize Angela. She was straining and attempting to run away from him. She wasn't having an affair with my husband as I had suspected.
I was disgusted with my husband's behaviour, but I didn't know what else to do. I could not call the police. A second car arrived. Paul was back. But my relief was short-lived.
Paul took one look at them from the doorway and screamed in anger. Thomas was hit in the face as he lunged at him. They fought and Paul pulled out a gun. I watched frozen with fear as he screamed obscenities at Thomas. He had the rifle pointed at Thomas. Thomas remained motionless, his hand raised in surrender. Angela shouted not to shoot and she grabbed Paul's hand to stop him. She argued to call the police instead. This gave Thomas the opportunity to leap towards Paul and try to pull the rifle away from him. A gunshot rang out, and Angela slid to the ground slowly, her eyes lifeless. She died instantly. Both men froze, but Thomas recovered first, grabbing the revolver and holding Paul at gunpoint. Paul was crying and waving his hand at Thomas, pleading for his life to be spared.
Another boom sounded, and Paul's lifeless body was thrown at my husband's feet. I just witnessed my husband murder two people in cold blood.
I stopped speaking and looked at the white-faced Aiden. The look of shock and disbelief on his face was very satisfying. The person he had been admiring his entire life just turned out to be a monster. I couldn't help smiling.

"Would you like me to go on?" I inquired. He just nodded.

I was terrified to death. I knew Thomas had anger issues, but I had no idea he could kill someone. I was debating whether or not to stay when a little boy, maybe 9-10 years old, sprang out of nowhere and flung himself upon Thomas. With his little fists, he kicked and hit Thomas. It was Javier Munoz. Thomas simply grabbed him and threw him against a wall. The youngster hit his head and collapsed.
The boy was still groaning on the floor, Thomas looked murderous. What he did next made my stomach churn. He shot the boy! I screamed and rushed inside the house, running straight at Javier.
Thomas was stunned to see me there.

"What have you done?" I screamed at Thomas. I was trying to feel for a pulse, a breath..... anything. Javier's face was covered in blood.

"What…what are you doing here?" Thomas asked. He looked terrified. His anger and madness had subsided and he was looking around wildly.

"Damn you! You just slaughtered a family! And how could you do that to a little boy? How could you?" My heart went out to the little boy because I had little William at home. I might be a selfish bitch, but I would never hurt a child.
Thomas dropped to his knees, crying.

"Why? Why did you do this ?" I screamed again.

"Paul....he was blackmailing me! Oh god! What have I done?" he cried desperately. Then he turned to me with a wild expression on his face.

"Fiona, we need to get the cassettes; Paul has everything on tape. Look for it." He snatched my shoulder and shook me violently, yelling incoherently about recordings.

"Wait, what tapes?" I inquired, perplexed.

"He was trying to blackmail me. He's got everything....my...my stuff!" He sobbed uncontrollably.

"Ok! You search down here, and I'll check up!" I responded quickly. I went upstairs without waiting for him to respond, scouring every room for tapes.

I dragged down a locked suitcase I found in one of the rooms. The lock was broken by Thomas. The tapes were packed inside the luggage.

"Are these the ones?" I enquired. I asked quickly, my breathing quickening.

"I….Yes, I believe so. I'm…" He said uneasily, "I'm not sure."

"Damm it! Play it and see! There's the VCR over there," I said impatiently.

He looked hesitant.

"Thomas! You have to trust me! I am your wife! I would not betray you. We are in this together!" I half-shouted and half cajoled.

Without another word, Thomas plugged in a tape and turned the VCR up. The images immediately came on the screen. It was all there in the tapes.
My husband's dark secrets. His drugs, his debauchery, everything was in it. I had seen enough and quickly ejected the tape and started destroying it.

"You wanna help destroy them?"

I said exasperatedly. We destroyed the tapes. Well, not all. I sneaked in a few. It was my insurance, for my secured future. If Thomas could wipe out an entire family, he could easily get rid of William and me as well. It was then I realized I had married a monster!
I checked on the bodies again. The adults were dead but the little boy was still breathing. Thomas wanted to kill him but I stopped him. I might be a selfish gold digger, but I am not a murderer and I would not let that happen to a child. Thankfully, Thomas listened to me and we called his dad, the senior Reiner.
I paused and looked at Aiden. He was now breathing hard. His knuckles had turned white.
"Did Grandpa know about it?" He said quietly.

"Certainly! How do you suppose we managed to keep your father's misdeeds hidden?" I responded.

Reiner Sr. quickly set to work. He instructed his son to burn the destroyed tapes. When the tapes were completely burnt, he instructed us to return home. He called an ambulance for the boy. He was rushed to a private hospital to which Reiners had been donating generously, and the current Chairman of that hospital was indebted to Reiner Sr.
He was a very powerful and influential man after pulling many strings and spending generously. Thomas Reiner was cleared of all charges.
As for the little boy, he was secretly treated and sent off to live with his aunt in Europe.
Of course, she wasn't told the real story and the boy died while in a coma. The truth never came out. However, I had saved two tapes for myself. To ensure that Thomas didn't dump William and me. Our relationship never improved, but I managed to get William and myself in Thomas's will.
After Thomas died, Reiner Sr put his foot down and wanted to throw me out of the mansion, but I threatened him with exposing the tapes. His business rivals would love to get their hands on them. This is why your grandpa has been tolerating me, bailing out William. I finished narrating and stared at Aiden's expressionless face.

"Are those tapes still with you?" He inquired softly.

I nodded, I had to lie. I couldn't let him know that they were long gone. Destroyed due to Will's stupidity.
"Very well, I believe you. I will do whatever I can to save William, but I can't help him unless you tell me where he is? "

"I don't know where William is," I replied truthfully, " but I will let you know once I find out, and you will save him." I insisted.

"Deal," he replied. He was a thorough businessman, just like his father and grandfather.

Pardon me, but I have to speak with Grandpa." He said, then walked away.