Chapter 9: The Truth Behind The Accident
The office was dark.
Nobody moved.
David held the flash drive tightly in his hand.
The footsteps outside became louder.
One step.
Then another.
Jasmine whispered:
“Who is it?””
Anderson looked terrified.
“Michael.””
Jessica quickly locked the door.
“We need to leave.””
David looked at her.
“You knew he would come?””
Jessica shook her head.
“No.””
A loud knock interrupted them.
Everyone froze.
Then a voice came through the door.
“David.””
His brother’s voice.
Older.
Colder.
David closed his eyes.
After twelve years, he was finally hearing Michael again.
“Open the door.””
David didn’t answer.
Michael laughed softly.
“You always were stubborn.””
Jasmine looked at her father.
“What do we do?””
David moved closer to the door.
“We talk.””
Jessica grabbed his arm.
“David, no.””
But he opened it.
Michael stood outside.
For a moment, the brothers just stared at each other.
The resemblance was obvious.
Same eyes.
Same family.
Different choices.
“You look older,” Michael said.
David’s expression remained cold.
“You look like someone who ran away.””
Michael smiled.
“I survived.””
“You destroyed our family.””
Michael walked inside.
“No. I exposed what was already broken.””
Jasmine stepped forward.
“You tried to steal my home.””
Michael looked at her.
“So Eleanor told you nothing.””
David immediately stepped between them.
“Don’t mention her name.””
Michael laughed.
“Still protecting her?””
“You don’t get to talk about my wife.””
Michael’s smile disappeared.
“Your wife knew the truth.””
Jasmine felt a chill.
“What truth?””
Michael looked at her.
“The property was never supposed to belong only to you.””
David stared.
“What are you talking about?””
Michael reached into his coat.
He pulled out a document.
“Your father created a shared family trust.””
David took the paper.
But before he could read it, Michael continued.
“Eleanor changed it.””
Jasmine whispered:
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
Michael looked at her.
“She removed me from control.””
David’s eyes narrowed.
“Because you were stealing.””
Michael ignored him.
“She chose Jasmine.””
The room became silent.
Jasmine looked confused.
“Why?””
Michael looked at her.
“Because she believed you would protect the family.””
David looked at the document.
The signature was there.
Eleanor Carter.
Michael smiled.
“And when I confronted her, she threatened to expose everything.””
David’s voice became dangerous.
“What happened that night?””
Michael looked away.
For the first time, he seemed uncomfortable.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.””
Jasmine’s heart raced.
“What?””
Michael looked at her.
“Your mother found the financial records.””
David stepped closer.
“What did you do?””
Michael stayed silent.
That silence was an answer.
David grabbed his brother’s jacket.
“You killed her?””
“No!””
Michael pushed him away.
“I didn’t kill her.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
Michael looked at the floor.
“She was driving to meet someone.””
“Who?””
Michael didn’t answer.
Jasmine felt tears building.
“Who was she meeting?””
Michael looked at her.
“Your father.””
David froze.
“What?””
Michael continued.
“Eleanor wanted to tell you everything that night.””
Jasmine’s voice shook.
“But she never arrived.””
Michael looked at the flash drive in David’s hand.
“Because someone else got there first.””
Nobody breathed.
David whispered:
“Who?””
Michael looked toward Jessica.
And Jessica’s face went completely pale.
“Ask her.””
Jasmine slowly turned.
“No…”
Michael spoke the words that shattered the room.
“Your stepmother was the last person who saw your mother alive.””
Jessica closed her eyes.
David stared at her.
“Jessica?””
She said nothing.
Then the office door opened again.
A police officer stood there.
“Mr. Carter?””
David turned.
“Yes?””
The officer held a file.
“We found the vehicle records from the night your wife died.””
David felt his entire body go cold.
May you like
The officer looked at Jessica.
“And they show your current wife was driving the car that followed her.””
