Chapter 3: The Beneficiary
I couldn't breathe.
Rebecca's signature was unmistakable.
I had seen it on mortgage documents, birthday cards, grocery lists.
But this was different.
This was beneath a claim for Sarah's life insurance.
The amount made my vision blur.
$2.4 million.
I looked at Rebecca.
“You filed a claim?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Your signature is right here.””
“It's fake.””
Sarah stepped beside me.
“Then someone forged it.””
I looked at the date.
Six weeks after Sarah's accident.
My hands went numb.
Rebecca had been helping me plan the memorial at that exact time.
She had sat beside me while I cried.
She had held my hand at the cemetery.
She had told me Sarah was finally at peace.
Now I stared at her signature on a document claiming Sarah was dead.
“Why?”” I asked.
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“You weren't yourself.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
She looked at Sarah.
“You want the truth?””
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Sarah was planning to leave Daniel.””
I looked at my first wife.
Sarah's eyes widened.
“That isn't true.””
“You told me yourself,” Rebecca said.
“I told you I was scared.””
“Scared of Daniel?””
Sarah shook her head.
“No. Of Ethan.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did Ethan do?””
Sarah looked at Lily.
“I found out he had been taking money from my company.””
Rebecca interrupted.
“And you threatened to expose him.””
“Yes.””
“That's why he wanted you gone.””
Sarah stared at her.
“You knew.””
Rebecca didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“How did you know Ethan wanted Sarah dead?””
Rebecca's silence said more than words could.
Margaret whispered, “Mr. Carter…”
I turned.
She was holding a second envelope.
“This was behind the refrigerator.””
Rebecca's face went white.
I took it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The first line was addressed to Rebecca.
*If Sarah wakes up, make sure Daniel never finds her.*
I looked at Rebecca.
“Who wrote this?””
She started crying.
“I didn't kill her.””
Sarah's face hardened.
“Then what did you do?””
Rebecca wiped her cheeks.
“I found the wreck.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“I was driving that night.””
Sarah stepped backward.
“You?””
Rebecca nodded.
“I saw your car go over the cliff.””
Sarah's voice dropped.
“And you left me there?””
“I thought you were dead.””
“You thought?””
“I panicked!””
Sarah's hands began trembling.
“You knew I was alive.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Not at first.””
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
“I came back the next morning.””
Sarah's eyes filled with disbelief.
“And?””
“I found the car empty.””
The kitchen seemed to shrink around us.
“You didn't call the police,” I said.
Rebecca shook her head.
“I was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Of Ethan.””
Sarah whispered, “So you helped him.””
“No!””
Rebecca slammed her palm against the counter.
“I tried to stop him.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did you marry me?””
Her face crumpled.
“I loved you.””
Sarah gave a hollow laugh.
“You married my husband three months after my funeral.””
Rebecca looked at her.
“I thought you were dead.””
“And the insurance money?””
Rebecca said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Then Lily spoke from behind me.
“Daddy?””
I turned.
She was holding something in her small hands.
A phone.
“Rebecca left this in my room.””
Rebecca froze.
I took it from Lily.
The screen was unlocked.
There was one unsent message.
I read it aloud.
“*She knows. Sarah is back. We need to finish this tonight.*”
The message was addressed to Ethan.
Before I could say another word, headlights swept across the kitchen windows.
A car stopped outside.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
“Daniel.””
I looked toward the front door.
Someone stepped onto the porch.
Then came three slow knocks.
May you like
And Rebecca whispered,
“He came back.””
