Chapter 10: The Recording That Was Never Meant to Be Found
The detective’s words followed me long after the call ended.
*The recording wasn't made to expose Brandon.*
*It was made to record you.*
I stood in the basement, holding the phone against my ear even though Detective Harris had already disconnected.
Nobody spoke.
Not Brandon.
Not Linda.
Not Rachel.
They were all watching me.
Waiting.
I looked at Brandon first.
His face had lost all color.
"You knew.""
His eyes moved away.
That was all the answer I needed.
"You knew there was a recording.""
"Emily—"
"No.""
My voice cut through the room.
"Don't say my name like you still have the right.""
He swallowed.
"I didn't know exactly what was recorded.""
"But you knew something existed.""
Silence.
I turned to Rachel.
"Did you know?""
She looked ashamed.
"No.""
Linda whispered:
"I did.""
I stared at her.
"You knew?""
She nodded slowly.
"Not everything.""
"Then what?""
She looked toward the floor.
"Brandon told me he needed proof.""
"Proof of what?""
Her eyes filled with regret.
"That you were unstable.""
The words felt unreal.
I laughed once.
A painful sound.
"He wanted to prove I was unstable?""
Linda nodded.
"He said if anyone questioned the divorce, he needed evidence that you were irrational.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
He wasn't just trying to steal my house.
He was building a story.
A story where I was the villain.
A story where everyone would believe him.
"Where is the recording?""
I asked.
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang again.
Detective Harris.
I answered immediately.
"Where is it?""
His voice was careful.
"We recovered the device.""
"Can I hear it?""
"Mrs. Carter—"
"Can I hear it?""
A pause.
"Yes.""
I put him on speaker.
A file was sent.
My hand hovered over the screen.
I didn't know what I expected.
Maybe Brandon's voice.
Maybe Vanessa's.
Maybe proof of everything they had done.
I pressed play.
At first, there was only silence.
Then a door opened.
A voice.
My voice.
But something was wrong.
I listened carefully.
"Brandon, I can't do this anymore.""
My heart stopped.
I never said those words.
The recording continued.
"I hate this marriage. I hate this house. I hate everything you built.""
I looked at everyone.
That wasn't me.
It sounded like me.
But it wasn't.
Detective Harris spoke.
"Mrs. Carter, listen carefully.""
The audio continued.
My fake voice said:
"I just want the money. That's all I ever wanted.""
My stomach turned.
Someone had created a recording of me confessing to things I never said.
A deepfake.
A setup.
Brandon whispered:
"Oh my God.""
I looked at him.
"You knew.""
His expression changed.
"I knew he was creating evidence.""
"Who?""
He froze.
I stepped closer.
"You didn't do this alone.""
His silence confirmed it.
Rachel suddenly said:
"Who helped you?""
Brandon looked at her.
"Rachel—"
"No.""
Her voice hardened.
"You ruined my life because I found your secrets. You destroyed Emily because she trusted you. But who taught you how to do this?""
Brandon looked exhausted.
Then he said:
"Her.""
Nobody moved.
"Who?""
Brandon closed his eyes.
"My mother.""
Everyone turned toward Linda.
She looked horrified.
"Brandon.""
He laughed bitterly.
"You can't pretend anymore.""
I stared at Linda.
"You helped him fake evidence against me?""
Tears filled her eyes.
"I didn't know it would go this far.""
I shook my head.
"Everyone says that.""
I walked upstairs.
Nobody followed.
I entered my bedroom.
The room where my marriage had ended.
The room where someone had planted a device to destroy me.
I searched carefully.
Detective Harris stayed on the phone.
"Mrs. Carter, the device was hidden behind the headboard.""
I looked.
There was a small hole in the wood.
A tiny camera.
I felt sick.
Then I noticed something else.
A piece of paper underneath the bed.
I picked it up.
It was old.
Yellowed.
A handwritten note.
Not Brandon's handwriting.
Not my father's.
I read the first line.
*Linda, if Emily ever discovers the truth, activate the second plan.*
My breath stopped.
Second plan.
I flipped the page.
Only one sentence remained.
*The house was never the goal.*
I looked around the room.
Then I read the final words.
*The real target is Emily's inheritance.*
I looked toward the doorway.
Linda stood there.
May you like
And for the first time...
she looked afraid of me.
