Chapter 12 - ChloeThe photograph changed the shape of everything.
Daniel stared at his sister's face.
“That is impossible.”
My mother shook her head.
“Chloe was born to Margaret and Marcus.”
“Marcus?”
“Peter's son.”
Daniel's face went blank.
“Then Chloe is…”
“Your cousin.”
Silence.
I felt sick.
The family tree had turned into a maze.
Margaret had married Richard.
She had an affair with Peter's son.
They had a child.
And somehow Chloe had been raised as Richard's daughter.
Why?
My mother continued.
“Margaret knew Marcus was unstable.”
“What happened to him?”
“He threatened to expose the family.”
“Then what?”
“He disappeared.”
Richard had never mentioned him.
Daniel looked devastated.
“Does my father know?”
“I believe he discovered the truth before he died.”
I looked at the photograph.
“Why would Margaret have another child secretly?”
My mother answered:
“Because Marcus was supposed to inherit from Peter.”
“But Chloe?”
“She was the backup.”
Daniel stood.
“Backup for what?”
“The money.”
My mind raced.
That meant Chloe was not simply part of the family drama.
She was another potential heir.
And if my father had named me sole heir, then Chloe had a reason to hate me too.
We drove back.
Daniel was silent the entire way.
When we arrived, the house was surrounded by police.
Margaret had been taken away.
But Chloe was standing on the front steps.
She looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Then at my mother.
Her face changed.
“You found her.”
My mother stopped.
Chloe whispered:
“My real grandmother.”
I froze.
“What?”
Chloe looked at Daniel.
“You didn't know?”
He shook his head.
She laughed bitterly.
“Of course you didn't.”
She turned toward me.
“Your father ruined everything.”
“My father?”
“He made a deal with Peter.”
“What deal?”
“He promised to destroy the business.”
“Why?”
“Because Peter tried to steal it.”
My head spun.
Chloe pulled out her phone.
She showed me a recording.
Margaret's voice.
A confession.
But the recording wasn't about the house.
It was about me.
Margaret was saying:
“Emily cannot live long enough to inherit.”
My blood froze.
The date on the recording was from three months earlier.
I looked at Chloe.
“Where did you get this?”
“From Mom's phone.”
“Why did she want me dead?”
Chloe looked away.
“Because she believed you would expose all of us.”
I swallowed.
“Did she plan to kill me?”
Chloe hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She had a driver.”
“Who?”
Chloe's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know his name.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then why are you telling us?”
Chloe looked directly at him.
“Because the driver is still out there.”
She handed me another file.
Inside was a photograph.
A man beside a black sedan.
I stared at the face.
I knew him.
He had delivered my groceries last month.
He had waited outside our house twice.
He was someone I had never suspected.
Daniel looked over my shoulder.
“Who is that?”
I whispered:
“Margaret's pastor.”
Chloe nodded.
“He isn't a pastor.”
Before anyone could speak, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Stop digging.”
“Who are you?”
A pause.
Then:
“Ask your husband what happened on the night your father died.”
The line went dead.
I turned toward Daniel.
May you like
He looked terrified.
Because he knew exactly what the caller meant.
