Chapter 8: The File Patricia Wanted Buried
Rachel sat at our kitchen table.
The same table where Patricia had accused me.
The same table where Daniel had almost chosen his mother over me.
But this time, Patricia wasn’t there.
And the truth finally had a chance to speak.
Rachel placed the folder down.
“I didn’t want to get involved.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Then why are you here?””
She looked at him sadly.
“Because I realized someone was going to get hurt.””
I looked at the folder.
“What is inside?””
Rachel opened it.
“Your mother’s plan.””
Daniel stiffened.
“My mother’s plan?””
Rachel nodded.
“She hired me to prepare documents.””
“For what?””
Rachel hesitated.
Then answered.
“To challenge ownership of this house.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“Our house?””
Rachel nodded.
“Patricia believed you were going to put the property in your wife’s name.””
Daniel frowned.
“I never said that.””
“I know.””
Rachel looked at me.
“But Patricia believed it.””
My stomach tightened.
“So she attacked me because of a house?””
Rachel shook her head.
“Not only that.””
She pulled out another document.
“This was the second part.””
Daniel picked it up.
His eyes moved quickly.
Then he looked angry.
“What is this?””
Rachel said quietly:
“A custody complaint.””
I froze.
“Custody?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She was planning to say you were unstable.””
Rachel nodded.
“She wanted evidence.””
My voice became quiet.
“The attack.””
“Yes.””
Rachel looked at me.
“She needed a story where you looked violent.””
Everything suddenly connected.
The fake documents.
The camera.
The screaming.
The fall.
She wasn’t reacting.
She was building a case.
Daniel stood and walked away.
His hands went through his hair.
“My mother was going to destroy my wife.””
Rachel looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn’t you stop her?””
Her eyes filled with guilt.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
Rachel looked at Daniel.
“Your mother has done this before.””
The room became silent.
Daniel turned.
“What?””
Rachel opened another file.
“There are three previous complaints.””
Daniel took the papers.
I watched his face change.
“Against who?””
Rachel answered.
“Women she believed were taking attention away from her.””
My stomach turned.
“She did this before?””
Rachel nodded.
“But she never went as far because those women left.””
Daniel looked at the papers.
Then whispered:
“She ruined people.””
Rachel didn’t answer.
Because she didn’t need to.
That night, Daniel and I sat in the living room.
No television.
No conversation.
Just silence.
Finally, he spoke.
“I failed you.””
I looked at him.
“You did.””
He nodded.
“I kept thinking I was protecting my family.””
“You were protecting the wrong person.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
For the first time in days, I believed him.
Not because he apologized.
Because he finally understood.
Then Rachel’s words returned to my mind.
She never went this far because those women left.
I looked at Daniel.
“She isn’t going to stop.””
He shook his head.
“No.””
A notification appeared on my phone.
Another message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
And my heart stopped.
It was a photo.
A photo of Patricia standing outside our house.
Holding a new folder.
The message said:
“She knows Rachel talked.””
I showed Daniel.
His face changed.
May you like
Because underneath the message was another line.
“She’s coming back tonight.””
