Chapter 8: The Person Who Set The Trap
Ryan noticed everything.
That was what made him successful.
He noticed numbers.
Patterns.
Small mistakes.
And now he was noticing Mark.
“Where did you get this?””
Mark looked uncomfortable.
“I told you. I found it.””
“Where?””
Mark hesitated.
Ryan’s voice became sharper.
“Where?””
“In Mom’s house.””
The answer came too quickly.
Almost rehearsed.
I crossed my arms.
“So you were searching her house?””
Mark looked at me.
“Don’t twist this.””
“I’m not twisting anything.””
I pointed toward the folder.
“You came here with documents that supposedly prove I committed fraud.””
Mark stared.
“And you think I’m the problem?””
“Yes.””
The word surprised him.
Ryan stepped between us.
“Enough.””
But his eyes stayed on Mark.
“Why were you looking through Mom’s things?””
Mark sighed.
“Because I knew she was hiding something.””
Ryan looked at him.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I wanted proof.””
“No.””
Ryan shook his head.
“You wanted control.””
Mark’s expression changed.
That was when I realized something.
The brothers weren’t united.
They were competing.
They had been doing it for years.
Mark sat down.
“Ryan, you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Mark looked at the floor.
“Dad changed his will before he died.””
Ryan froze.
“What?””
I felt my heart race.
“What are you saying?””
Mark looked at Ryan.
“Your father didn’t leave everything to you.””
Silence.
“He left evidence.””
Ryan frowned.
“Evidence of what?””
Mark didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at me.
And that terrified me.
“Of what your mother did.””
Ryan stared.
“Then why accuse Rachel?””
Mark looked away.
“I didn’t.””
I stepped forward.
“You did.””
“No.””
Mark shook his head.
“Someone else did.””
The room went quiet.
Ryan slowly turned toward him.
“What does that mean?””
Mark swallowed.
“It means Diane wasn’t the only person involved.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who else?””
Mark looked at Ryan.
Then at me.
“The person who helped Diane move the money.””
I felt cold.
Because this was becoming another trap.
Another moment where someone wanted Ryan to doubt me.
“I’m done listening,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
“I’m going to get Emily.””
Ryan looked at me.
“Rachel.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“But I’m not letting my daughter grow up watching everyone fight while nobody protects her.””
I walked upstairs.
Emily was sitting on her bed.
She wasn’t asleep.
She was holding her rabbit.
“Mommy?””
I sat beside her.
“Hey.””
“Are you mad at me?””
My heart broke.
“No.””
She looked down.
“Grandma said I ruined everything.””
I pulled her into my arms.
“She was wrong.””
Emily was quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Mommy…”
“What?””
“I didn’t see Grandma taking papers.””
I froze.
“What?””
She looked scared.
“I saw someone else.””
My entire body went still.
“Who?””
Emily looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered a name.
May you like
A name that made my blood run cold.
“Uncle Mark.””
