Chapter 14: What Happened That Night
“I remember.””
Everyone went silent.
Michael looked at me.
“Remember what?””
“The night your father died.””
My voice sounded distant.
“I remember everything.””
David stepped closer.
“Evelyn, take your time.””
I closed my eyes.
The memory returned like a door opening.
Robert's office.
Rain against the windows.
His voice.
“Evelyn, you have to listen to me.””
I remembered standing across from him.
Angry.
Confused.
He had just told me about Elizabeth.
About Michael.
About Claudia.
And about the money.
Then someone knocked.
Robert turned.
Claudia walked in.
She was holding a folder.
“You lied to me,” Robert said.
Claudia smiled.
“I protected my family.””
“You stole from me.””
“I took what you owed us.””
“You're going to prison.””
She laughed.
“You won't live long enough to send me there.””
Then the door opened again.
Arthur entered.
Behind him stood a young man.
Nathan.
I remembered his face.
He had been eighteen.
Terrified.
Robert looked at him.
“Nathan.””
Nathan was crying.
“I just want my mother.””
Robert stepped toward him.
“Your mother is dead.””
Nathan shook his head.
“You promised.””
Arthur grabbed him.
Robert reached for the phone.
Claudia pulled a knife.
I remembered screaming.
“Claudia, put it down!””
She lunged.
Robert pushed her away.
The knife fell.
Then Arthur attacked him.
Robert hit the floor.
I grabbed the knife.
Not to hurt anyone.
To protect Robert.
Then everything happened at once.
Arthur rushed toward me.
I raised my hand.
The knife went into his shoulder.
He collapsed.
Claudia screamed.
Someone ran out.
And Robert…
Robert was already dying.
I dropped the knife.
He grabbed my wrist.
“Evelyn…”
“I'll call an ambulance.””
“No.””
“Robert, you're bleeding.””
“Listen.””
His eyes were fading.
“Michael.””
“What about him?””
“Protect him.””
“I will.””
“Even from me.””
I didn't understand.
Then he whispered,
“Don't trust the test.””
The memory ended.
I opened my eyes.
Michael was crying.
“You stabbed Arthur?””
“Yes.””
Arthur suddenly appeared at the doorway.
He looked exhausted.
“I survived.””
I turned toward him.
“You told everyone I attacked you.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because Claudia told me if I didn't, Michael would disappear.””
Michael stared at him.
“You threatened my mother?””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I protected her.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then who killed Robert?””
Arthur's expression changed.
“I didn't.””
Claudia was brought into the room by two officers.
Her hands were cuffed.
Michael turned toward her.
“Tell me.””
She stared at me.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
Claudia sighed.
“Robert was poisoned.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“The knife had nothing to do with his death.””
David looked stunned.
“Who poisoned him?””
Claudia's eyes moved toward Sabrina.
Sabrina stepped backward.
“No.””
Claudia smiled sadly.
“Not her.””
She looked at me.
“Your husband had been taking heart medication. Someone replaced it.””
“With what?””
“Something that looked exactly like it.””
Michael's voice shook.
“Who had access?””
Claudia laughed.
“Everyone.””
David stepped forward.
“But only one person ordered the pharmacy refill.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
He opened his laptop.
A pharmacy record appeared.
The refill had been authorized using my account.
But the phone number attached to the request belonged to—
Michael.
My son stared at the screen.
“I didn't do that.””
“I believe you,” I said.
Then Sabrina whispered,
“Someone had his phone.””
Michael looked at her.
“When?””
“The night before the wedding.””
He frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“You left your phone in the hotel room.””
“Who found it?””
Sabrina looked toward the police.
“Your mother.””
Every face turned toward me.
I shook my head.
“I never touched his phone.””
Michael stared at me.
Then he suddenly reached into his jacket.
“My phone.””
“What?””
He pulled it out.
The screen lit up.
A message had just arrived.
*You were right to trust your mother.*
Another message appeared.
*Because she is the only one who didn't betray you.*
Michael looked at me.
Then came the final message.
*Now check the second account under your name.*
David opened the banking records.
His face went pale.
“There is one.””
Michael stared.
“How much?””
David swallowed.
“$44 million.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“That's impossible.””
David looked at me.
“No.””
He turned the screen around.
The account holder was not Michael.
Not me.
Not Robert.
May you like
The name was:
*Elizabeth Bell.*
