Chapter 2: The Recording Nobody Was Supposed to See
The video was slightly grainy, filmed from the corner of the living room.
But it was clear enough.
Chloe appeared on the screen at 2:17 p.m., wearing the same blouse she had been wearing when she accused Ethan.
She glanced toward the hallway.
Then she looked toward the staircase.
After confirming that nobody was watching, she walked to the brass lamp and lifted it with both hands.
I heard my father inhale sharply.
On the screen, Chloe hesitated for a moment before deliberately smashing the lamp against the hardwood floor.
The crash echoed through the living room speakers.
She stared at the broken pieces, adjusted her hair, and examined herself in the dark reflection of the television.
Then she did something that made my stomach twist.
She grabbed the collar of her blouse and ripped it.
My father whispered, "No.""
Chloe shook her head violently.
"That's edited!""
Lily didn't look away from the screen.
"Keep watching.""
A few seconds later, Linda entered the room.
She surveyed the broken lamp, then walked straight toward Chloe.
"What happened?"" Linda asked in the recording.
Chloe answered in a perfectly ordinary voice.
"Nothing yet. He should be here soon.""
"Did you make sure nobody saw you break it?""
"Yes.""
Linda reached for Chloe's blouse.
"Turn around.""
Chloe obeyed.
Linda seized the collar and pulled hard enough to tear the fabric farther down the shoulder.
"There," Linda said.
"Now you look frightened.""
My hands went cold.
The recording continued.
Chloe glanced toward the front door.
"Do you really think Dad will believe me?""
Linda gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Your father believes whatever makes him feel like a good man. Tell him a boy hurt a girl in his house, and he'll throw Ethan out before the sun goes down.""
"But what if Ethan tells him the truth?""
"Then we'll make sure nobody listens.""
Linda straightened Chloe's collar, stepped back, and studied her work.
"Remember, you didn't start anything. He came home angry, grabbed you, and broke the lamp when you fought back.""
Chloe frowned.
"What if Dad asks why Ethan would attack me?""
Linda's answer came without hesitation.
"Because men like Ethan think they're entitled to everything.""
The video ended.
Nobody moved.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the rain hitting the windows.
Then my father turned toward Chloe.
"Tell me that isn't real.""
Chloe's mouth opened, but no words came out.
"Tell me!"" he shouted.
She stumbled backward.
"I was scared! Linda said it was the only way!""
Linda lunged for Lily's phone.
"Give me that!""
Lily pulled it against her chest.
"No!""
"You have no idea what you're doing!"" Linda snapped.
"You're destroying this family over a stupid misunderstanding!""
"A misunderstanding?"" I repeated.
"You told Chloe to frame Ethan!""
Linda swung toward me.
"Watch your mouth, Emily.""
"Why? Afraid the camera recorded your good side?""
Her face flushed.
My father raised a hand.
"Linda, stop talking.""
She stared at him in disbelief.
"You're going to believe a recording made by a child over your own wife?""
"The recording shows you ripping her shirt!""
"She asked me to help her!""
Chloe suddenly burst into tears again.
"I didn't know what else to do!""
Ethan, who had been standing motionless beside the door, finally spoke.
"Why?"" he asked.
Nobody answered.
He took a step toward Chloe.
"Why would you do this to me?""
Chloe covered her face.
"I didn't think Dad would actually kick you out!""
"You accused me of attacking you!""
"I was angry!""
"Angry about what?""
She lowered her hands.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she looked at Linda.
That tiny glance said more than a confession could have.
My father noticed it too.
"What is going on between you two?""
Linda folded her arms.
"Nothing. Chloe made a mistake. We can discuss it privately.""
"No," Lily said.
Her voice trembled, but she stood her ground.
"That's what you always say. Every time something happens, you make us go into another room and tell us not to talk about it.""
Linda's face hardened.
"Lily, you are a child.""
"Then why are you so scared of what I recorded?""
That silenced her.
Ethan slowly placed his car keys on the entry table.
"I want my things," he said.
My father looked at him.
"Ethan, wait.""
"No."" Ethan's eyes were red.
"You had your chance to listen. You didn't want to.""
"I was trying to protect Chloe.""
"And who was protecting me?""
My father had no answer.
Ethan turned toward the stairs.
"I'll pack what I can carry. I'll figure out the rest later.""
I followed him, but before we reached the landing, Lily called out.
"There's something else.""
Ethan stopped.
Lily looked down at her phone.
"The first video proves Chloe lied about today.""
She took a shaky breath.
"But last night, I heard Linda talking to someone in the kitchen. I didn't understand what she meant, so I left the camera recording.""
Linda went completely still.
My father turned slowly.
"Talking about what?""
Lily looked at him.
"Money.""
Ethan frowned.
"What money?""
Lily pressed another video.
The screen showed our kitchen at 11:43 p.m. the previous night. Linda stood beside the counter, speaking quietly into her phone.
Then her voice came through the speakers.
"Once Ethan is out of this house, nobody will be left to question what we did with his inheritance.""
My father's face drained of color.
"Inheritance?"" he whispered.
Linda spun toward Lily.
"Turn that off!""
But Lily had already stepped backward.
And from the kitchen speaker came Linda's next sentence.
"The boy doesn't even know his grandfather left him nearly half a million dollars.""
Ethan stopped breathing.
My father stared at his wife as if he had never seen her before.
May you like
Then he asked the question that would tear our family apart.
"What did you do with my father's money, Linda?""
