Chapter 4 - Evelyn forgot how to breathe.Olivia's voice drifted down the staircase.

“Evelyn, I know you're here.”

Daniel grabbed Evelyn's arm.

“Back door.”

They moved silently.

But Olivia spoke again.

“You always were predictable.”

Evelyn stopped.

The words weren't pleading.

They weren't apologetic.

They were confident.

Cold.

Daniel whispered:

“We need to leave.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“Why is she here?”

“Because she knows about the tape.”

“Then we're not leaving without it.”

Daniel stared at her.

“You heard her.”

“Yes.”

“She knows we're here.”

“I know.”

“And you still want to stay?”

Evelyn looked toward the stairs.

“Three years ago, she testified against me.”

Daniel's expression hardened.

“Evelyn…”

“She watched me go to prison.”

A pause.

“Today she followed me home.”

Evelyn's voice became strangely calm.

“I want to hear what she has to say.”

They stepped upstairs.

Olivia stood in the living room.

She looked almost exactly as Evelyn remembered.

Perfect blonde hair.

Expensive coat.

Elegant posture.

But her eyes had changed.

There was no sadness in them.

Only calculation.

Olivia smiled.

“Congratulations.”

Evelyn stared.

“For what?”

“You survived.”

Daniel stepped forward.

“You shouldn't be here.”

Olivia ignored him.

She looked at Evelyn.

“You look older.”

“So do you.”

Olivia smiled.

“Prison suits you.”

Daniel moved toward her.

“You're going to leave.”

Olivia finally looked at him.

“And you are going to tell her the truth?”

Daniel's face tightened.

“I already did.”

Olivia laughed softly.

“No.”

She looked back at Evelyn.

“He told you one piece.”

“What piece did he leave out?”

Olivia reached into her purse.

She pulled out a photograph.

She placed it on the table.

Evelyn picked it up.

The photograph showed Michael.

Standing beside a woman Evelyn didn't know.

On the back was a date.

December 16, 2021.

The day before the affair was discovered.

Evelyn looked closer.

Michael was holding a folder.

The woman beside him was pointing toward a building.

Evelyn recognized it.

The courthouse.

“What is this?”

Olivia said:

“Your husband wasn't planning to leave you.”

“I know.”

“No.”

Olivia's smile faded.

“You don't.”

Evelyn stared.

“What was he planning?”

Olivia leaned toward her.

“To expose me.”

Silence.

Daniel stared at Olivia.

“What?”

Olivia's eyes darkened.

“Michael found out.”

“Found out what?”

“That your father didn't die naturally.”

Evelyn's world tilted.

She dropped the photograph.

Daniel whispered:

“You're lying.”

Olivia looked at Evelyn.

“Ask Daniel.”

Evelyn turned.

Daniel looked destroyed.

“Daniel?”

He didn't answer.

“Tell me.”

His silence was enough.

Evelyn stepped backward.

“You knew?”

Daniel swallowed.

“I suspected.”

“Suspected what?”

“That your father's death wasn't an accident.”

Her voice cracked.

“You knew?”

“I didn't have proof.”

Olivia smiled.

“But Michael did.”

Evelyn turned to her.

“What happened?”

Olivia looked toward the window.

“Michael discovered the old records.”

“What records?”

“Medical records.”

Evelyn's hands trembled.

“Were they falsified?”

Olivia nodded.

“He was going to take them to the police.”

“What stopped him?”

Olivia's smile returned.

“You did.”

Evelyn froze.

“What?”

“You found us in bed.”

“I didn't know anything.”

“You weren't supposed to.”

Olivia stepped closer.

“You were supposed to lose control.”

Evelyn's eyes widened.

“The bat.”

“Yes.”

“You planned it.”

Olivia didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

Daniel stepped forward.

“You manipulated her.”

Olivia looked at him.

“I gave her exactly what she already had inside her.”

Evelyn stared at her best friend.

“Why?”

Olivia's expression changed.

For a second, something resembling pain appeared.

Then it disappeared.

“Because your father left you something.”

Evelyn whispered:

“What?”

“A company.”

“I already knew about that.”

“No.”

Olivia shook her head.

“Not that company.”

She reached into her purse.

She removed another document.

She handed it to Evelyn.

It was a copy of an old trust agreement.

At the bottom was her father's signature.

Evelyn read the final paragraph.

Her face went white.

The trust didn't contain money.

It contained ownership.

Ownership of a private investment network worth tens of millions.

An inheritance her father had hidden from everyone.

Including Evelyn.

She looked at Olivia.

“You knew.”

Olivia smiled.

“We all knew.”

Then Daniel said the words that made the room go silent.

“Michael isn't dead.”

Evelyn turned.

“What?”

Olivia's smile disappeared.

Daniel looked at her.

“I found proof.”

Olivia whispered:

“Daniel…”

He pulled out his phone.

On the screen was a photograph.

Michael.

Alive.

Taken three weeks earlier.

Evelyn stared at his face.

Then another detail caught her eye.

Michael was standing beside someone.

Evelyn recognized that person.

Her own lawyer from the trial.

The lawyer who had told her they had done everything possible to save her.

Evelyn's stomach dropped.

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