Chapter 5: The Sister-in-Law Who Knew Too Much
I read Emily's message at least six times.
Then I called her.
She didn't answer.
I sent another message.
I need to know what you know.
Three minutes passed.
Then another message arrived.
*Emily: Not over the phone. Can you meet me tomorrow? Somewhere Daniel and Patricia won't find out.*
I looked at Rachel.
She was driving.
"Emily contacted me.""
Rachel glanced at the screen.
"What did she say?""
"She knows where the money went.""
Rachel's expression tightened.
"Don't meet her alone. And don't promise her anything.""
I nodded.
"Do you think she was involved?""
"I think we should listen before deciding.""
The next morning, Emily chose a small coffee shop near the train station.
I arrived fifteen minutes early and sat at a table facing the entrance.
At 10:12, she walked in.
She looked nothing like the confident woman who had attended Patricia's birthday party.
Her hair was tied back carelessly. She wore an oversized gray sweater and carried a canvas bag.
She checked the windows before approaching me.
"Sarah?""
"Yes.""
She sat down.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Emily looked at my arm.
"How are you?""
The burns had mostly healed, although a few darker marks remained.
"I'm getting better.""
Her eyes filled.
"I'm sorry.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
She swallowed.
"Because I knew something was wrong before that dinner. I should have told you.""
The waitress approached.
Emily ordered black coffee.
When the waitress left, I leaned forward.
"What do you know?""
Emily opened her bag and removed a small notebook.
"Daniel and Mom started moving money through Westbrook Family Holdings almost two years ago.""
"Why?""
"To protect assets.""
"From whom?""
She looked directly at me.
"From you.""
The words landed like a slap.
I sat back.
"What?""
"Daniel said you were becoming too interested in the finances. He told Mom you might eventually want to separate your money from his.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"So they decided to steal it first?""
Emily shook her head.
"They called it restructuring.""
"Emily, don't use their language. Tell me what happened.""
She opened the notebook.
"I worked part-time doing administrative work for Mom's company. I wasn't supposed to handle the financial accounts, but she needed someone to organize invoices and payment records.""
"Westbrook?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought it was temporary. And because Daniel told me the money was his.""
I stared at her.
"He told you that?""
"Yes. He said he had contributed most of the money to your marriage and that you were aware of the transfers.""
I almost laughed.
"I was paying the mortgage.""
"I know.""
She looked down.
"I saw your salary deposits in the records.""
The waitress brought our coffee.
Emily waited until she walked away.
Then she continued.
"The first major transfer was supposed to pay for a property investment. Mom said she and Dad were purchasing a small rental property. But after that, money started going everywhere.""
"Where?""
Emily turned the notebook toward me.
Several handwritten entries were visible.
*Lake house — $64,000.*
*Apartment — $19,200.*
*Emily support — $33,600.*
*Robert consulting — $42,000.*
I stared at the numbers.
"These are the payments Michael found.""
Emily nodded.
"But there's something else.""
She turned another page.
*Noah — school and medical expenses.*
I looked up.
"Who is Noah?""
Emily's fingers tightened around her coffee cup.
"My son.""
I blinked.
"You have a son?""
She nodded.
"He just turned four.""
I remembered the photograph.
"Why didn't I know?""
"Daniel told me not to discuss him with you.""
"Why?""
Emily's eyes filled again.
"Because Daniel is his father.""
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood.
The coffee shop continued humming around us.
A man laughed near the counter.
A spoon clinked against a ceramic cup.
But I couldn't hear anything properly.
"What did you say?""
Emily wiped her cheek.
"Daniel is Noah's biological father.""
I stared at her.
"You're his sister.""
"I know how it sounds.""
"You're telling me your husband had a child with his own sister?""
"No!"" Emily quickly shook her head.
"No, Sarah. I'm not Daniel's biological sister. Patricia adopted me when I was eleven. Daniel and I aren't related by blood.""
I closed my eyes.
I had never known the details of Emily's adoption.
Patricia always introduced her as her daughter.
Daniel had always called her his little sister.
But that didn't explain anything.
"How did this happen?""
Emily looked toward the window.
"Years ago, after my divorce, I was struggling. Daniel offered to help me. He said he could give me a job, help with rent, and make sure I was safe.""
She paused.
"Then we started an affair.""
My hands went cold.
"Before I married him?""
"Yes. It continued after your wedding.""
I felt physically sick.
"How long?""
"Almost two years.""
I stood halfway out of my chair.
Emily grabbed my wrist.
"Please. Let me finish.""
I pulled my hand away but remained seated.
She spoke quickly.
"When I discovered I was pregnant, Daniel panicked. He told me Patricia would never accept it. He said we needed to keep everything quiet.""
"And you agreed?""
"I was scared. I had nowhere else to go.""
"So they paid you to stay silent?""
Emily nodded.
"Some of the money was for Noah. Some was for rent. Some was supposed to be my share of the company.""
I stared at her.
"Your share?""
"Mom promised to make me a beneficiary.""
"Of what?""
"Westbrook Family Holdings.""
I slowly understood.
The money wasn't simply being sent to Patricia.
The company had become a private financial network for Daniel's family.
My money was supporting an entire secret life.
"Does Patricia know Daniel is Noah's father?""
Emily gave a bitter laugh.
"She arranged everything.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She helped me find the apartment. She chose the doctor. She paid for Noah's preschool. She told Daniel he needed to protect his reputation.""
I remembered Patricia standing in the dining room, calling me ungrateful.
The woman who had humiliated me in front of thirty-six relatives had apparently spent years helping her son conceal another family.
"Why did you rush to help me at the party?"" I asked.
Emily looked down.
"Because when Mom threw that soup, I realized something.""
"What?""
"She wasn't afraid of losing you as a daughter-in-law. She was afraid you would start looking into the money.""
I sat completely still.
Emily reached into her bag again.
This time, she removed a USB drive.
"I copied some files before Mom changed my access.""
I didn't touch it.
"What files?""
"Payment records, company emails, and the original loan documents.""
My heart began racing.
"Original?""
"The version with your signature.""
I leaned forward.
"Did I sign it?""
Emily shook her head.
"No.""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Daniel used an old signature from your mortgage paperwork. But Mom told him to make sure the loan was approved before you found out.""
"Why?""
Emily hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Because they weren't planning to repay it.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What were they planning to do?""
Emily pushed the USB drive across the table.
"Sell the house, transfer the money overseas, and leave you responsible for whatever debt remained.""
I stared at the tiny black device.
"How do you know?""
"Because I saw the email.""
She opened her notebook to the final page.
There was a printed email reference and a date.
The subject line read:
*FINAL TRANSFER — MITCHELL PROPERTY*
I looked at the date.
It was scheduled for the following Monday.
Four days away.
My voice shook.
"Emily, why are you telling me this now?""
She started crying.
"Because I found out something else yesterday.""
"What?""
"Mom has already arranged a meeting with the buyer.""
"Who is buying our house?""
Emily swallowed.
Then she said the name.
"Robert Mitchell.""
Daniel's father.
I stared at her.
"He's buying our house?""
"Not directly. He's using another company.""
I felt dizzy.
"Why would he buy a property that already belongs to his son?""
Emily leaned closer.
"Because Daniel and Patricia aren't just trying to take your money, Sarah.""
She looked toward the entrance.
May you like
Then back at me.
"They're trying to make sure you have nowhere to go when the truth comes out.""
