Chapter 4: The Woman in the Recording
The room went silent.
Not the ordinary silence that comes after an argument.
This was different.
The kind of silence that seemed to suck the air from the walls.
Marcus stared at Evelyn.
“Mom?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
On the tablet, the recording continued.
The mysterious woman sat beside Aaliyah in the bridal suite, her black dress perfectly pressed, her silver hair pulled into a neat bun.
Aaliyah looked nervous.
“You're sure Marcus won't find out?””
The woman smiled.
“He won't, if you do exactly what I told you.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Who is she?””
Daniel didn't move.
His face had gone completely white.
Evelyn noticed.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
He looked at her.
“Don't.””
“Who is that woman?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.””
The woman on the recording laughed.
Then she turned toward the camera.
“I've waited twenty-three years for Evelyn to lose everything.””
Marcus stepped backward.
“Twenty-three years?””
Aaliyah covered her mouth.
Daniel's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
The woman continued.
“Her husband was supposed to leave the trust to Daniel. Evelyn knew that. She changed everything.””
Marcus turned to his mother.
“Did you?””
Evelyn finally found her voice.
“No.””
The woman on the screen leaned closer to Aaliyah.
“She'll deny it. That's what Evelyn does.””
Aaliyah whispered, “But what about the attack?””
“Do it before the ceremony,” the woman replied.
“Once Marcus believes his mother tried to hurt you, he'll cut her out.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Why would you want Mom gone?””
The recording continued.
The woman looked directly at Aaliyah.
“Because your future mother-in-law knows what happened to her husband.””
Evelyn's hand flew to her mouth.
Daniel turned toward her.
“What happened to Dad?””
“Daniel—”
“What happened to Dad?””
His voice echoed through the suite.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't kill your father.””
Daniel flinched.
“I didn't ask if you killed him.””
He stepped closer.
“I asked what happened.””
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, she whispered:
“Your father was going to expose someone.””
“Who?””
“I never knew.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
He slammed his palm against the vanity.
“Then why did that woman say you were responsible?””
“Because she wants you to believe that.””
“Who is she?””
Evelyn looked at the screen.
“I know her.””
Everyone stared.
Marcus asked, “Who?””
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“Her name is Vivian Cole.””
Daniel froze.
Aaliyah's eyes widened.
“Cole?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Your father's former business partner's wife.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“But Vivian died.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel's face changed.
“The funeral—”
“Was for someone else.””
Nobody moved.
Marcus looked confused.
“Then whose funeral did we attend?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“Vivian's sister.””
Daniel stared at his mother as if seeing her for the first time.
“Why would she disappear?””
“Because your father discovered she was stealing from the company.””
Vivian's voice came from the tablet.
“Evelyn took everything from me.””
Daniel's eyes remained locked on the screen.
Evelyn continued.
“She blamed me when your father cut her husband out. She swore she'd destroy this family.””
Marcus looked at Aaliyah.
“And you knew her?””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“She contacted me.””
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“You've been working with her for three months?””
“I didn't know who she really was!””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You knew enough.””
Aaliyah turned toward him.
“You're the one who introduced us!””
Daniel stopped.
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
Aaliyah pointed at Daniel.
“Daniel brought Vivian to me.””
Daniel's eyes widened.
“You're lying.””
“You told me she could help.””
“I never said that.””
“You gave me her number!””
Marcus stepped between them.
“Enough.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Did you give Aaliyah Vivian's number?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Marcus's voice grew louder.
“Did you?””
Daniel finally whispered:
“Yes.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Because I needed answers.””
“What answers?””
“About Dad.””
The room fell silent again.
Daniel's voice cracked.
“I spent years believing you killed him.””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“You believed that because Vivian made you believe it.””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Because of what I saw.””
Marcus frowned.
“What did you see?””
Daniel looked at him.
“The night Dad died.””
Evelyn went still.
“You were nine,” she whispered.
“I remember.””
“You weren't supposed to see anything.””
“But I did.””
Daniel stared at her.
“I saw Dad arguing with you.””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“And then he fell.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Mom…”
Evelyn sat down slowly.
“Your father collapsed.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You were standing over him.””
“I was trying to help him.””
“You were holding something.””
Evelyn looked up.
“A phone.””
Daniel's face twisted with anger.
“You told me he was sick.””
“He was.””
“You told everyone he died of a heart attack.””
“He did.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then why did you hide his phone?””
Evelyn froze.
Marcus noticed.
“Mom?””
Evelyn looked toward the floor.
“I didn't hide it.””
Daniel whispered:
“Then where is it?””
She didn't answer.
Daniel suddenly reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the vanity.
It showed Evelyn standing beside a car.
Beside her was Vivian.
And between them was Marcus and Daniel's father.
The photograph was dated two days before his death.
Marcus picked it up.
“Where did you get this?””
“Vivian.””
Evelyn stared at it.
“That photograph was taken without my knowledge.””
Daniel's voice was cold.
“She says you met with her the night Dad died.””
“I did.””
Marcus looked up.
“You did?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Because she called me.””
“What did she want?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“She told me your father was in danger.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Then why didn't you tell us?””
“Because by the time I got there, he was already dying.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
Something about it bothered him.
The car in the background.
The building behind them.
He zoomed in on the image.
“Mom.””
“What?””
“That isn't Dad's office.””
Evelyn stared.
“No.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Where is this?””
Daniel's face tightened.
“I don't know.””
Aaliyah suddenly whispered:
“I do.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed at the photograph.
“That building.””
Her voice shook.
“That was Vivian's old warehouse.””
Daniel looked at her.
“How do you know?””
Aaliyah's eyes widened.
“Because I was there.””
Marcus stared.
“When?””
Aaliyah backed away.
“The night before our engagement.””
Evelyn stood.
“What did you see?””
Aaliyah began crying.
“I saw Vivian.””
“And?””
“She wasn't alone.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who was with her?””
Aaliyah looked at Daniel.
Then at Evelyn.
Finally, she whispered:
“Your father.””
Daniel's face went blank.
“That’s impossible.””
“He was alive.””
Evelyn's knees nearly buckled.
Marcus grabbed the vanity.
“If Dad was alive…”
He looked at the photograph.
“…then whose body did we bury?””
Aaliyah's phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID showed only one word.
*VIVIAN.*
And before anyone could stop her, Aaliyah answered.
May you like
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
“You finally found the photograph.””
