Chapter 8: The Name In The Will
I read my father’s sentence over and over.
The person who betrayed me was inside this house.
The words felt heavier every time.
Because there were only a few people inside this house.
Vivian.
Ashley.
Me.
And now Ethan.
I looked around the room.
Everyone had secrets.
But my father had trusted someone enough to leave clues behind.
“Who was it?”” I asked.
Ethan didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
He looked away.
“I promised your father I wouldn’t tell you until you found the evidence yourself.””
I stared at him.
“You’re kidding.””
“No.””
“My father is dead, and everyone keeps telling me there are things I’m not allowed to know?””
His expression softened.
“Hannah—”
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“I spent my whole life believing this house was safe.””
I looked at the walls.
The paintings.
The furniture.
The memories.
“And now I’m finding out it was built on lies.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Mr. Harrison placed the document on the table.
“Your father wanted you to see this.””
I looked down.
It was another page from the trust.
At the top was a heading.
*Final Inheritance Condition.*
I read the first line.
My daughter must know the truth before she receives control of my estate.
My heart tightened.
“He called me his daughter.””
Mr. Harrison nodded.
“He wanted that written legally.””
A tear slipped down my face.
Not because of the money.
Not because of the house.
Because after everything, my father had made sure nobody could erase me.
Not even Vivian.
I turned the page.
Then I saw a name.
A name I didn’t expect.
My hands went cold.
“What?””
Mr. Harrison watched my reaction.
“What is it?””
I looked up.
“The trust mentions Ashley.””
Everyone became silent.
Ashley’s face changed.
“Me?””
I looked back at the paper.
It wasn’t an accusation.
It was a statement.
Ashley was not aware of the full extent of her mother’s actions.
I frowned.
“What does this mean?””
Ethan answered quietly.
“Your father believed Ashley was being manipulated.””
Vivian immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t you dare bring my daughter into this.””
Interesting.
She defended Ashley quickly.
Almost too quickly.
Ashley looked at her mother.
“Mom?””
Vivian grabbed her hand.
“Don’t listen to them.””
But Ashley pulled away.
For the first time, she looked unsure.
“Hannah…”
I looked at her.
She looked different.
Not innocent.
Not guilty.
Just confused.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“There’s something I never told you.””
Vivian’s expression changed.
“Ashley.””
“No.””
Ashley shook her head.
“You said it didn’t matter.””
My stomach tightened.
“What didn’t matter?””
Ashley looked at me.
“The night your father went to the hospital.””
Silence.
“What about it?””
She whispered:
“I saw my mother arguing with him.””
My entire body went still.
“When?””
“The night before.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
Mr. Harrison looked at Ashley carefully.
“What did you hear?””
Ashley looked terrified.
“She was angry.””
“About what?””
Ashley’s voice dropped.
“She said Daniel had ruined everything.””
Vivian stepped forward.
“That’s not what happened.””
Ashley ignored her.
“She said if he changed the will, she would lose everything.””
The room froze.
I looked at Vivian.
She looked at her daughter like she had betrayed her.
“You don’t understand what you heard.””
Ashley’s eyes filled with tears.
“I heard enough.””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
And immediately felt my blood run cold.
It was a photo.
A photo of my father.
Taken inside the hospital.
On the night he died.
But the person standing beside his bed wasn’t a doctor.
It wasn’t a nurse.
It was Vivian.
And underneath the picture was one sentence.
*Your father didn’t die alone. Ask Vivian what happened after this photo was taken.*
I looked up.
Vivian was staring at my phone.
May you like
She had seen the picture.
And she knew exactly who sent it.
