Chapter 9 - The Woman Who Watched My Father DieMarian sat at the kitchen table.
I stood across from her.
Every part of me wanted to scream.
Instead I asked:
“Tell me.”
She stared at the floor.
“Your father came to me the night before he died.”
“Why?”
“To warn me.”
“About what?”
“Evan.”
I already knew that part.
“What did he say?”
“He told me Evan was using the family foundation to hide money.”
“And?”
“He said Richard was helping him.”
“And you believed him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you stop them?”
Marian's eyes filled.
“Because I was terrified.”
“Of Richard?”
“Of losing everything.”
The words felt like a slap.
“My father died because you were afraid.”
“I did not kill him.”
“But you watched.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“At the hospital.”
My stomach twisted.
“What happened?”
“Your father had chest pain after leaving my office.”
“Was it natural?”
“No.”
Silence.
Marian opened the drawer beneath the counter.
She pulled out a medical report.
I read it.
Toxicology.
A sedative.
A medication that should never have been mixed with his heart medication.
I looked up.
“Someone poisoned him.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“We never proved it.”
“Did Evan know?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because he was the one who ordered the prescription.”
My entire body went cold.
Marian stared at me.
“I found the evidence after your father died.”
“Why didn't you go to police?”
“Because Richard had control over the investigation.”
I stared at her.
“You let them get away.”
“Yes.”
That single word broke the last piece of trust I had.
I turned away.
Then I heard something.
A vehicle outside.
Headlights swept across the windows.
Thomas stood.
“Someone's here.”
Police drew their weapons.
The front door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
I knew her immediately.
“Elena?”
She nodded.
She looked at Marian.
Then at me.
“I came because it's time.”
Paige began crying.
“I thought you were dead.”
“So did everyone who mattered.”
Elena walked toward the table.
She looked at the phone.
“You found it.”
“Did Evan kill my father?”
She swallowed.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Richard.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Because your father discovered the Ash account.”
“What's in it?”
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
She opened a small leather bag.
Inside were flash drives.
“Payments. Transfers. Names. Recordings.”
Thomas took one.
“This is enough to bring down the foundation?”
“It can bring down more than that.”
She looked at me.
“Your father didn't just discover the money.”
“What else?”
“He discovered the plan.”
“What plan?”
“To take control of your inheritance.”
I frowned.
“I didn't have an inheritance.”
“You did.”
Elena placed a document on the table.
My father's estate.
Stocks.
Property.
Trust shares.
A number made my head spin.
Nearly eight million dollars.
I stared.
“I didn't know.”
“Because Evan hid it.”
“How?”
“Your father died before he could tell you.”
“And Evan married me?”
Elena nodded.
“He knew about the inheritance.”
I felt sick.
Every anniversary.
Every birthday.
Every “I love you.”
A transaction.
Not a marriage.
Elena continued.
“Your father left instructions.”
“What instructions?”
“He told me that if anything happened to him, I should watch Evan.”
“And you did.”
“Yes.”
“What did you see?”
“Elena looked at me.
“The fall.”
My heart stopped.
“You saw it?”
“I saw the security footage.”
“From where?”
“Richard had cameras.”
I stared at her.
“Then why didn't you come forward?”
“Because they were looking for me.”
She pulled another phone from her bag.
“There is something else.”
She pressed play.
Evan's voice.
“This time, Claire won't walk away.”
Richard asked:
“And if she does?”
Evan replied:
“Then we'll make sure she can't.”
The recording ended.
Police officers moved toward the door.
A detective entered.
“We have a warrant.”
“For Evan?”
“For Richard.”
My heart raced.
“Where is he?”
The detective looked at Elena.
“Exactly where she said he would be.”
“In the warehouse?”
“No.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“At the airport.”
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