Chapter 5: The Person Who Helped Diane
The next morning, I woke up before my alarm.
I had barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lily’s red mark.
I saw Diane standing over her.
I saw Jason sitting there, doing nothing.
But now there was something else.
That message.
*Did Sarah find out about the account?*
Someone else knew.
Someone else had been involved.
I walked into the kitchen and found Jason already there.
He was staring at his laptop.
Three untouched cups of coffee sat beside him.
“You didn’t sleep,” I said.
He looked up.
“No.””
His voice sounded different.
Smaller.
“I called the bank.””
I sat down slowly.
“And?””
Jason turned the laptop toward me.
“The account exists.””
My stomach tightened.
“How much?””
He swallowed.
“Thirty-six thousand dollars.””
I stared at him.
“Thirty-six thousand?””
He nodded.
The number felt unreal.
“That’s our emergency savings.””
“I know.””
“Lily’s college fund was connected to that account.””
Jason looked away.
“I know.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered:
“I should have listened to you.””
I looked down.
I wanted to feel relieved.
I wanted those words to fix everything.
But they couldn’t.
Not after seven months of being ignored.
Not after watching my daughter get hurt.
Before I could answer, Jason’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
He just showed me.
It was Diane.
Jason picked up.
“What?””
Diane’s voice came through immediately.
“You need to come over.””
“No.””
A pause.
Then her voice became softer.
“Jason, please.””
He looked at me.
I shook my head.
But he continued listening.
“There’s something you don’t know.””
Jason’s jaw tightened.
“What?””
Diane hesitated.
Then said:
“Your father left something behind.””
I froze.
Jason’s father had passed away years ago.
“What does that have to do with the account?””
Diane didn’t answer directly.
“You need to come alone.””
Jason hung up.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“No?””
“I’m not hiding anything from you anymore.””
An hour later, we were standing outside Diane’s house.
She opened the door immediately.
She looked exhausted.
Not like someone who had lost.
Like someone planning her next move.
“I knew you’d come.””
Jason stepped inside.
“What did you do?””
Diane looked hurt.
“I’m your mother.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
She looked at me.
“You brought her?””
Jason’s face hardened.
“She stays.””
Diane sighed.
“Of course.””
She walked toward the living room and opened a drawer.
Then she pulled out an old envelope.
“I didn’t want things to happen this way.””
I crossed my arms.
“You wanted to control our money.””
Diane ignored me.
She handed the envelope to Jason.
“Your father left instructions.””
Jason looked confused.
“He died ten years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you showing me this now?””
Diane looked at me.
“Because Sarah was never supposed to know.””
The room went quiet.
Jason opened the envelope.
Inside was a document.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he stopped.
“What is this?””
Diane looked nervous.
“It explains everything.””
Jason kept reading.
Then his face changed.
“Mom…”
“What?””
He looked up.
“This signature…”
Diane said nothing.
Jason’s voice became colder.
“This isn’t my father’s signature.””
I felt a chill.
Diane immediately reached for the paper.
“Give that to me.””
Jason stepped back.
“No.””
She froze.
Then her expression changed completely.
The fear disappeared.
Something darker replaced it.
“You really want to know the truth?””
Jason stared.
“Yes.””
May you like
Diane smiled faintly.
“Then ask your wife why her name is on the original document.””
