‘Greg is far too possessive,’ she said. ‘I realised that when he started checking my phone and asking me to account for my movements. I thought I loved him, but it took me a while to realise that I didn’t. The only person I told was Claire and I started coming to see her more often. And that’s when I started bumping into Ethan and discovered that I still had feelings for him.’

‘And I had never stopped loving her,’ Ethan said.

‘So, you started seeing each other while you and Greg were planning the wedding?’ James asked Libby.

‘We were very careful,’ she answered. ‘We both used burner phones to communicate with each other so Greg was none the wiser. Honestly, it didn’t take me long to make up my mind to end it with him, but just as I was about to do so his father died suddenly. I decided to wait until after the funeral because I didn’t want to add to his pain. That was when Claire got Ethan and me together and things changed.’

‘In what way?’ Abbott asked.

It was Claire who answered. ‘I was told that Greg had inherited his father’s business and all his money, which ran into the millions. It provided an opportunity for Libby and my son to ensure they would never have to want for anything. And … it helped that I would finally be getting my revenge for what his father did to my husband.’

Realisation dawned for James and he said, ‘So it was all about the money?’

She nodded. ‘I persuaded Libby to go ahead and marry Greg so that she could get her hands on a chunk of his fortune. All she had to do was stick with it for four or five months. Then she could seek a divorce and secure a sizeable settlement. It ticked all the boxes. Ethan’s debts could be paid off and I wouldn’t have to worry about ending up in some crappy care home. And the pair of them would be able to live life to the full and never have to worry about money. It was win-win all the way as far as I was concerned. They both thought so too, which is why they were happy to go along with it.’

‘And did your parents know about it, Libby?’ James asked her.

Libby pursed her lips and shook her head. ‘Nobody knew except us. And I beg you not to tell anyone now. It’s nothing to do with Rachel’s death, and it’s nobody’s business but ours.’

‘I have a question for you,’ Abbott said. ‘Given the situation, why did you risk everything by kissing Ethan in the hotel garden?’

‘I was desperate to speak to him after the marriage became official,’ Libby replied. ‘I told him to meet me there so that we could talk. I asked him if he still thought we were doing the right thing and he assured me that we were and that we needed to stay focused on the future. We fell into each other’s arms because we didn’t think anyone could see us. But that’s when Rachel appeared.