Chapter 7: My Sister Turned the Family Against Me
By noon, Madison had turned me into a criminal in the eyes of half our family.
My phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Aunts I hadn't spoken to in months sent messages asking why I was trying to destroy my sister's life. Cousins who had witnessed me being pulled from the pool wanted to know whether Ethan had been manipulated into canceling the wedding.
Then my aunt Patricia called.
I answered because I still had a foolish hope that at least one person would ask whether I was okay.
"Olivia, what on earth is going on?"" she demanded.
"I'm trying to figure that out myself.""
"Madison says you've been threatening the family over Grandma's money.""
I closed my eyes.
"She pushed me into a swimming pool knowing I couldn't swim.""
"Yes, darling, I heard about the pool. But your sister says you exaggerated what happened so you could force your father to hand over the inheritance.""
I stared at the kitchen wall.
"Did Madison tell you about the video?""
"What video?""
"The one where she tells her bridesmaid that maybe I won't be lucky this time, then pushes me into the water.""
Silence.
"She said you slipped," Patricia finally replied.
"She lied.""
"Olivia, I don't want to get involved in family disagreements.""
I almost laughed.
"Then why did you call me to accuse me of blackmail?""
She hung up.
I lowered the phone.
Across the kitchen, Uncle Daniel was speaking quietly with my mother. Dad had disappeared into his study after admitting he'd promised Madison half my inheritance in exchange for her silence.
I couldn't decide which part hurt more.
That my father had concealed money from me for years, or that he had believed my sister's silence was something he could purchase.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, it was Ethan.
Madison is posting about you on social media. Don't respond yet. I'm saving everything.
I opened Facebook.
Madison had uploaded a photograph of herself sitting on our parents' front steps, her engagement ring prominently displayed beside her tear-streaked face.
The caption read:
Sometimes the people closest to you are the ones who hurt you most. I have spent my entire life trying to protect my family, only to be betrayed by someone who has always been jealous of me. I won't let lies and manipulation destroy everything I've worked for.
The comments were already filling up.
Stay strong, Madison.
Family can be toxic. Cut them off.
You deserve better than people who use tragedy for attention.
Then I saw a comment from one of her bridesmaids.
I was there. Something about this story doesn't add up.
Madison replied almost immediately.
Please don't let Olivia manipulate you, too.
I put the phone down.
"I can't do this," I whispered.
Uncle Daniel turned toward me.
"Do what?""
"Fight everyone. Explain everything. Prove I'm not lying.""
He pulled out the chair beside mine.
"You shouldn't have to convince people that nearly drowning is serious.""
"But they're believing her.""
"Some people believe the first story they hear. Others believe the story that lets them avoid confronting someone they love.""
I looked at him.
"What if nobody believes me?""
"Then we preserve the evidence and let the truth speak for itself.""
He tapped his briefcase.
"Your grandmother's estate has records. The attorney can establish what she left you. Chloe has the video.
Ethan has messages from the wedding vendors. We don't need to win an argument on Facebook.""
For the first time that day, I took a full breath.
Then the front door slammed.
Madison stormed into the kitchen without knocking.
Mom stood immediately.
"Madison, you can't just—"
"Where is it?""
Nobody answered.
Madison pointed at Daniel's briefcase.
"The will. Give it to me.""
Daniel closed the latches.
"No.""
"You stole it from Grandma!""
"She gave it to me.""
"You're lying!""
"Then why are you so desperate to take it?""
Madison's cheeks flushed.
She turned toward Dad's study.
"Where is the red box?""
Dad appeared in the doorway.
"It's gone.""
Madison stared at him.
"What do you mean, gone?""
"I don't know where it is.""
She laughed sharply.
"You had one job!""
Dad's face hardened.
"Excuse me?""
"You promised me!""
Mom looked between them.
"Madison, what is she talking about?""
My sister froze.
For one brief second, she seemed to forget that we were all standing there.
Then she recovered.
"I meant the wedding. Dad promised he'd help me pay for everything.""
"You said he had one job," I replied.
"Which job was that?""
She glared at me.
"Don't start.""
"No. Tell me. Was he supposed to hide the will? Or was he supposed to keep me from finding out?""
Madison marched toward me.
"You think you're so clever now, don't you? You finally have a story that makes everyone feel sorry for you.""
"I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me.""
"Then stop acting like a victim!""
Uncle Daniel stood.
"That's enough.""
Madison pointed at him.
"This is your fault! You should have stayed in Oregon.""
"And you should have learned that other people aren't objects you can push around.""
Her face contorted.
"At least I didn't spend my life pretending to be the perfect daughter!""
I stood.
"I never asked to be perfect. I asked you to stop hurting me.""
Madison stared at me, breathing hard.
Then she turned toward Dad.
"If you let her take that money, I'm telling everyone what really happened the night Grandma died.""
Mom went completely still.
Dad's face lost its color.
I looked at my sister.
"What happened the night Grandma died?""
Madison's eyes flicked toward me.
For once, she seemed to realize she had said too much.
"Nothing," she muttered.
"Then tell us.""
She snatched her purse from the counter.
"You'll find out soon enough.""
She stormed toward the front door.
But before she left, she turned back and looked directly at me.
"You wanted the truth, Olivia? Fine. Ask Dad why Grandma changed her will two months before she died.""
Then she walked out.
The door slammed so hard that a framed photograph rattled against the wall.
I turned toward my father.
He stood motionless, staring at the empty doorway.
"Why did Grandma change her will?"" I asked.
Dad slowly sat down.
May you like
And when he finally answered, I realized Madison had been hiding something far worse than an inheritance.
"Because," he whispered, "your grandmother discovered someone had been stealing from her for years.""
