Chapter 7: The Person I Trusted Most
I stared at the photograph in my hands.
The image was slightly blurry, but there was no mistaking the two people standing outside my house.
Daniel.
And my brother, Mark.
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
Mark had been the one person at dinner who looked uncomfortable.
The one person who seemed ashamed when Emily told me to leave the table.
I thought he was the only one who understood.
Now I wasn't sure what was real anymore.
Emily watched my face carefully.
"Mom...""
I looked up.
"Where did you get this?""
She swallowed.
"From Daniel's office.""
"Why were you in his office?""
She looked away.
"Because I finally started asking questions.""
I placed the photograph on the table.
"When?""
"After he sent that message to you.""
She rubbed her hands together nervously.
"I went through his computer.""
I raised an eyebrow.
"I know. I know it was wrong.""
A bitter smile crossed my face.
"Apparently everyone in this family thinks secrets are acceptable.""
Emily looked down.
The guilt on her face was real.
That was the only reason I didn't ask her to leave.
"Tell me everything.""
She took a deep breath.
"Daniel has been struggling financially for months. I knew about some of it, but not all of it.""
"How much did you know?""
"That he had debts.""
"And how much didn't you know?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"That he had been borrowing money from people.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
"Mark.""
I froze.
"My brother?""
She nodded.
"Daniel told me he was helping him invest.""
I stood up.
"Mark would never do that.""
Emily looked at me sadly.
"That's what I thought too.""
I walked to the window.
My whole life, Mark had been my protector.
When our parents died, we only had each other.
He was the person who drove through a snowstorm to bring me medicine.
The person who helped me raise Emily after my husband passed away.
The person I trusted.
But now there was a photograph.
And evidence.
And a growing pile of things I didn't want to believe.
My phone rang.
It was Mark.
Emily looked at me.
"Are you going to answer?""
I stared at his name.
Then I picked up.
"Hello, Mark.""
His voice sounded normal.
Too normal.
"Hey, sis. I was wondering if we could talk.""
"About what?""
A pause.
"About everything happening with Emily.""
I looked at the photograph.
"What do you know about that?""
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"What are you talking about?""
I almost laughed.
The same question.
The same innocent act.
"Mark, were you involved in helping Daniel prepare documents about my finances?""
Silence.
Then a sigh.
"Emily told you everything?""
"No.""
I looked directly at my daughter.
"She didn't.""
Mark's voice changed.
"Listen, you don't understand the situation.""
I closed my eyes.
That sentence.
Everyone used that sentence when they wanted me to accept something without asking questions.
"Then explain it.""
"Daniel was desperate.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"He needed help.""
"By targeting me?""
"No.""
His voice became defensive.
"That's not fair.""
I gripped the phone.
"What isn't fair, Mark?""
He didn't respond.
I waited.
Finally, he said quietly:
"Your house is worth a lot of money.""
My heart sank.
Not because he said it.
Because he said it so easily.
I whispered, "So that's what this was?""
"No. It's more complicated.""
"Is it?""
I looked around my home.
The walls.
The pictures.
The memories.
Everything I built.
"You all looked at my house and saw a number.""
"That's not true.""
"Then what did you see?""
He had no answer.
After a moment, he said, "I think you need to understand something.""
"What?""
"Daniel isn't the only person involved.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?""
Before he could answer, the call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Then it rang again.
This time, it wasn't Mark.
It was Thomas.
"Mrs. Carter," he said urgently.
"There's something you need to know.""
I stood still.
"What?""
"We found another document.""
"What kind of document?""
His voice lowered.
"A document showing someone has been preparing for your house to change ownership.""
I looked at Emily.
She looked terrified.
"Who signed it?""
Thomas paused.
Then he said a name.
May you like
A name that made my daughter cover her mouth in shock.
"Emily Carter.""
