Chapter 6: The Secret I Buried
I stared at the message until the words blurred.
Your mother knows why.
The accusation felt impossible.
Because I didn’t know why.
I didn’t know why my daughter betrayed me.
I didn’t know why someone copied my signature.
I didn’t know why people I trusted were suddenly connected to a plan I never saw coming.
James looked at me carefully.
“Mom.””
I forced myself to look up.
“Yes?””
“Who else knew about your house?””
I swallowed.
“No one.””
He didn’t believe me.
Not because he doubted me.
Because the evidence said otherwise.
“I’m serious,” I said.
“The house?””
“Yes.””
“Your finances?””
“No.””
“Your medical situation?””
I hesitated.
That hesitation changed everything.
James noticed.
“Mom?””
I looked down.
There was one person.
One person I had told.
Not about the house.
Not about money.
But about everything.
My diagnosis.
My fear.
My plans.
Someone who had sat beside me during chemotherapy.
Someone who knew how vulnerable I was.
“I told someone I had cancer.””
“Who?””
I closed my eyes.
“My sister.””
James looked confused.
“Your sister?””
I nodded.
“Elaine.””
Brielle suddenly looked up.
“You told Aunt Elaine?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before my second round of chemotherapy.””
Brielle exchanged a glance with Richard.
A glance that made my stomach twist.
“What?”” I asked.
She looked away.
“Nothing.””
“No.””
My voice sharpened.
“What do you know?””
Brielle stayed silent.
James stepped forward.
“Tell her.””
“I don’t want to.””
“Tell her.””
Brielle took a shaky breath.
“Aunt Elaine knew about the documents.””
The room went silent.
I felt like the floor disappeared.
“No.””
“She did.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Elaine would never do that.””
Brielle looked at me.
“Mom…”
The way she said it scared me.
“She was the one who introduced me to the lawyer.””
My chest tightened.
“No.””
“She said you were going to leave everything to me anyway.””
I backed away.
Memories flooded back.
Elaine visiting me.
Elaine asking about my will.
Elaine telling me:
“You should organize your affairs while you still can.””
At the time, I thought she was worried.
I thought she cared.
Now every conversation felt different.
James placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Mom, we need to find out what happened.””
I nodded slowly.
But inside, I was already breaking.
Not because of Brielle.
I had already seen what my daughter was capable of.
But Elaine?
My own sister?
The person who held my hand when my parents died?
The person who promised me we would always protect each other?
My phone suddenly rang.
I looked at the screen.
My blood went cold.
Elaine.
Everyone watched me.
“Answer it,” James said quietly.
I pressed the button.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then Elaine spoke.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“I heard the wedding didn’t go as planned.””
I gripped the phone.
“How do you know that?””
Another silence.
Then she said:
“Because I was the one who made sure the truth came out.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
A small breath.
Then Elaine whispered:
“You need to stop asking what Brielle did.””
I froze.
“Then what should I ask?””
Her answer came quietly.
May you like
“Ask yourself why I helped her.””
And before I could respond, the call ended.
