Chapter 10: The Box Under the Floor
Jason read the message three times.
Each time, his expression changed.
First confusion.
Then disbelief.
Then something that looked dangerously close to betrayal.
“Sarah.””
I looked up.
“I don’t know what that means.””
He held up the phone.
“Your father’s evidence was never hidden. Sarah has had it all along.””
My heart sank.
Because even though I knew the message was a trap, I understood why Jason was shaken.
For years, he had trusted me.
But he had also trusted his mother.
And now both of us were standing in front of him with secrets.
Diane watched silently.
Almost calmly.
Like she had been waiting for this exact moment.
“I told you,” she said softly.
Jason turned toward her.
“You knew about this?””
“I knew Sarah wasn’t telling you everything.””
I stared at Diane.
“You sent that message.””
She smiled.
“Did I?””
“You’re the only person who benefits from making him doubt me.””
Her expression hardened.
“You always think everything is about you.””
“No,” I replied.
“I think everything is about what you’ve done.””
Jason stepped between us.
“Enough.””
His voice was tired.
Not angry.
Just exhausted.
“I need the truth.””
I looked at him.
“I’ll tell you everything.””
Diane laughed.
“Finally.””
I ignored her.
“After your father gave me the records, I didn’t know who to trust.””
Jason frowned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Diane found out before I could.””
His face changed.
“What did she do?””
I looked down.
“She came to my apartment that night.””
The memory came back instantly.
The pounding on my door.
The rain hitting the window.
The way Diane smiled when I opened it.
“She told me your father was going to ruin my life.””
Jason looked at Diane.
“And?””
“She offered me money to stay silent.””
Diane rolled her eyes.
“That’s a lie.””
I continued.
“When I refused, she threatened to frame me.””
Robert looked at Jason.
“That matches your father’s notes.””
Jason looked at him.
“What notes?””
Robert opened his briefcase.
“Your father documented every interaction after he suspected Diane.””
He handed Jason a folder.
Jason opened it.
Then stopped.
“What is this?””
I leaned closer.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
Copies of emails.
And one photo of Diane meeting someone.
Jason’s eyes widened.
“Who is that?””
Robert looked serious.
“Your father’s business partner.””
The room went silent.
Diane looked away.
Jason noticed.
“Mom?””
She said nothing.
“Mom, who is he?””
Diane finally snapped.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She stood up.
“I was trying to protect this family.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Diane’s face tightened.
Then she looked at Jason.
“You really want to know where the evidence is?””
Jason didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.””
She pointed at me.
“Ask her about the box.””
My body froze.
Jason looked at me.
“What box?””
I swallowed.
Because I knew exactly what she meant.
Ten years ago, after leaving that apartment, I had hidden everything I had.
Every document.
Every recording.
Every piece of proof.
Not because I wanted to keep it.
Because I was terrified someone would find it.
“I kept something.””
Jason stared.
“What?””
I closed my eyes.
“A box.””
Diane smiled.
“There it is.””
Jason looked hurt.
“Where?””
I hesitated.
“I thought it was gone.””
“That’s not an answer.””
I looked at him.
“My old apartment.””
Robert immediately stood.
“The one in the photograph?””
I nodded.
Jason grabbed his jacket.
“Then we go there.””
Diane suddenly stepped forward.
“No.””
Everyone stopped.
Jason looked at her.
“Why?””
Her face went pale.
“I mean… there’s no point.””
Robert stared at her.
“You know what’s there.””
Diane didn’t answer.
And that was the moment Jason finally understood.
She wasn’t afraid of the box.
She was afraid of what was inside it.
Hours later, we arrived at my old apartment building.
The place looked smaller than I remembered.
The hallway smelled like dust and old paint.
I walked toward the door slowly.
Jason watched me.
“You kept all of this alone?””
I nodded.
“I thought nobody would believe me.””
He looked away.
That answer hurt him.
Inside the apartment, everything was empty.
Except one thing.
A loose floorboard near the bedroom.
Jason noticed.
“You hid something there?””
I nodded.
My hands shook as I lifted the board.
Underneath was a small metal box.
Covered in dust.
Jason held his breath.
I reached for the lock.
But before I could open it…
A voice came from behind us.
“You really should have left that buried.””
We turned.
And standing in the doorway was someone none of us expected.
May you like
Someone who had no reason to be there.
Someone who knew exactly what was inside that box.
