Chapter 2: The Girl Behind the Tears
I didn't sleep that night.
At six in the morning, I called my father's younger sister, Denise's sister-in-law, Aunt Denise—whom everyone called Dee to avoid confusion with my stepmother.
She had always been kind to me.
When I explained what was happening, she went silent.
"Ariana, are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Don't confront Tiffany. And don't tell your father anything until you have proof.""
"I have recordings.""
"Then keep them somewhere safe. Send copies to someone you trust.""
I hesitated.
"Why are you saying that like you expected this?""
She exhaled slowly.
"Because I've watched that girl manipulate people for years.""
I sat upright.
"What do you mean?""
"Not over the phone. Come to my house.""
By eight, I was sitting at her kitchen table while she poured coffee into two mugs.
She looked exhausted.
"Your father loves Denise," she began.
"And because he loves her, he has convinced himself that anything her daughter does must have an explanation.""
"That doesn't explain the money.""
"No. But it explains why nobody has stopped her.""
Aunt Dee opened a drawer and removed an old photograph.
It showed Tiffany standing beside a young woman with dark hair.
"Do you recognize her?""
"No.""
"Her name is Melissa.""
"Who is she?""
"She used to work for a company Denise managed. Tiffany and Melissa became close. They were practically inseparable.""
Aunt Dee pushed the photograph toward me.
"Until Melissa accused Tiffany of taking money from her savings account.""
I looked up.
"What happened?""
"Melissa lost her job. Tiffany told everyone she was unstable. Denise backed her up. A few months later, Melissa moved away.""
"Did she report it?""
"She tried. But she couldn't prove anything.""
I stared at the photograph.
The young woman looked happy.
Completely unaware of what was coming.
"Why didn't anyone tell Dad?""
"Because Denise convinced him that Melissa was a liar trying to extort money from Tiffany.""
I thought about the $180,000.
Then I thought about the anonymous message.
"Do you know where Melissa is?""
Aunt Dee shook her head.
"But I know someone who might.""
She wrote a phone number on a napkin.
"Call this woman. Her name is Patricia. She was Melissa's closest friend.""
I folded the napkin and slipped it into my purse.
Before leaving, I asked one more question.
"Do you think Tiffany is dangerous?""
Aunt Dee looked directly into my eyes.
"I think a person who can destroy someone's reputation without losing sleep can do much worse when their money is threatened.""
I drove home.
The house was quiet.
Dad was still away, and Denise had apparently gone shopping.
Tiffany was sitting on the living room sofa, scrolling through wedding invitations.
She glanced up.
"Where have you been?""
"Out.""
"With who?""
"That's not your business.""
She put down her phone.
"You're really making this difficult, Ariana.""
I walked toward the stairs.
Then she said something that stopped me.
"Brandon asked about you.""
I turned.
"What about me?""
"He wanted to know why you're not attending the rehearsal dinner.""
"Because you and your mother threw me out.""
Tiffany sighed dramatically.
"I told him you were having emotional problems.""
I stared at her.
"You told him what?""
"Don't make that face. I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
"From embarrassing yourself.""
She picked up her phone.
"Honestly, Ariana, everyone is exhausted by your jealousy.""
I walked closer.
"Why are you so afraid of me?""
Her fingers froze.
"What?""
"You heard me.""
She stood.
"You're imagining things.""
"Then why did you transfer Dad's money?""
For the first time, Tiffany's face went completely blank.
It lasted only a second.
Then came the tears.
"You went through Dad's private information?""
"I saw the statements.""
"You had no right!""
"Neither did you.""
She slapped the phone against her palm.
"Do you understand what you're doing? You're trying to destroy my wedding.""
"No. I'm trying to understand why you stole from your own father.""
Tiffany stepped closer.
Her voice dropped.
"Listen carefully. Brandon has money. Dad has money.
Denise has connections. What exactly do you have?""
I didn't answer.
She smiled.
"Nothing. That's what I thought.""
Then she walked past me and disappeared into the kitchen.
I waited until I heard her bedroom door close.
Then I called Patricia.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Hello?""
"My name is Ariana. I was told you knew Melissa.""
Silence.
Then a sharp breath.
"Who told you to call me?""
"Someone who knows about Tiffany.""
Another silence.
Finally, Patricia said, "Are you Khalil's daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Oh, God.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
"She's doing it again?""
I gripped the phone.
"Doing what?""
"Taking money. Making someone look unstable. Turning the family against them.""
I closed my eyes.
Patricia continued.
"Melissa wasn't the first person Tiffany hurt.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Who else?""
"I don't know their names. But I know she had a pattern. She would become someone's closest friend, learn their passwords, borrow money, then convince everyone the victim was lying.""
"Why didn't anyone stop her?""
"Because she always chose people who trusted her.""
I looked toward the hallway.
"What happened to Melissa?""
"She had a breakdown after losing her job and her savings. She spent months trying to convince people she hadn't stolen anything. Nobody listened.""
My throat tightened.
"Can I speak to her?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Maybe. But first, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
"Melissa told me Tiffany kept a second phone. She used it to communicate with people she didn't want her family to know about.""
I thought about the conversation I'd overheard.
The money.
The wedding.
The mysterious company.
"Do you know who she was talking to?""
"No. But Melissa once saw a message on that phone. It said, 'Once the wedding is over, Ariana won't be a problem anymore.''"
My blood ran cold.
That was almost exactly what I had heard Tiffany say.
Before I could respond, Patricia added something else.
"There's one more thing. If Tiffany is planning what I think she's planning, your father's money isn't the only thing at risk.""
"What else?""
"Brandon.""
I glanced toward the front window.
A black SUV had just pulled into the driveway.
Brandon stepped out.
He was carrying a garment bag.
And he wasn't alone.
A woman in a gray coat emerged from the passenger seat.
She looked directly at the house.
Then she raised her phone and took a photograph.
I whispered into mine.
"Patricia, who's that?""
"I don't know.""
But before she could say anything else, someone knocked on the front door.
Three hard knocks.
I opened it.
Brandon stood there, looking uncomfortable.
"Ariana, can we talk?""
The woman in the gray coat stepped forward.
"My name is Laura Bennett," she said.
"I'm a financial investigator.""
My heart began racing.
She held up a folder.
"I'm looking into a company registered under Tiffany's name.""
I stared at the folder.
"What does that have to do with me?""
Laura looked past my shoulder, toward the staircase.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Because your father isn't the only person whose money has been moved into that company.""
Behind me, a floorboard creaked.
May you like
Tiffany was standing at the top of the stairs.
And she had heard every word.
