Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I read Laura's message three times.
*Melissa says Tiffany wasn't the person who attacked her. It was Denise.*
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Denise.
The woman who had stood in my kitchen pretending to be a loving mother. The woman who had comforted Tiffany whenever she cried. The woman who had looked me in the eyes and told me I was destroying her family.
I had spent months believing Tiffany was the mastermind.
Now I was beginning to wonder whether she had simply inherited her mother's methods.
I immediately called Laura.
"Tell me exactly what Melissa said.""
Laura lowered her voice.
"Melissa is willing to meet you, but she's frightened. She wants to speak somewhere private, away from your family.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock. A coffee shop near the courthouse.""
"Why didn't she come forward earlier?""
"Because she believes Denise knows where her younger brother lives.""
My stomach tightened.
"Her brother?""
"Melissa has been supporting him financially. Denise apparently threatened to make trouble for him if Melissa ever spoke publicly.""
I looked toward my bedroom door.
"Does Denise have that kind of influence?""
"She has friends in several places. But whether those threats were credible is something we're still investigating.""
After ending the call, I heard a knock.
It was my father.
Khalil stood in the doorway holding a cardboard box.
He looked tired.
His expensive suit was wrinkled, and his eyes were red.
"Your aunt told me you were upset.""
I forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Dad.""
He placed the box on my bed.
"I brought some things from the garage. Your mother's old photographs. I thought you might want them before you move.""
I looked inside.
There were albums, framed pictures, and a small wooden jewelry box.
My throat tightened.
"You really think I should leave?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Ariana, please. Tiffany's wedding is in three days. I can't have another argument.""
"I'm not arguing, Dad.""
"Then why does everything have to become so difficult?""
I stared at him.
"Have you ever wondered why?""
He frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means you keep asking me to be quiet without ever asking what happened.""
His expression softened briefly.
Then his phone rang.
Denise.
He answered.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
I watched his face change as she spoke.
"She's still upset?"" he asked.
A pause.
"I'll talk to her.""
He hung up.
"Your stepmother is worried about Tiffany.""
I almost laughed.
"Of course she is.""
"Ariana.""
"Did you know she transferred your money into a company registered under her own name?""
His eyebrows pulled together.
"What?""
I had his attention.
For the first time in months, he was listening.
"More than $180,000, Dad. I saw the statements.""
He sat down slowly.
"That's impossible.""
"Then ask Denise.""
He looked toward the hallway.
"She handles some household finances. Perhaps there's an explanation.""
"There's always an explanation when it comes to Tiffany.""
He stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
I watched him walk away.
Another conversation.
Another chance for him to choose not to see.
The following morning, I arrived at the coffee shop fifteen minutes early.
Laura was already waiting.
Beside her sat a woman wearing a dark blue sweater. She looked about thirty, with tired eyes and a small scar near her hairline.
She stood when I approached.
"Ariana?""
"Melissa?""
She nodded.
We sat down.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Melissa looked at me.
"You have your mother's eyes.""
I wasn't expecting that.
"Did you know my mother?""
"No. But I've seen pictures of you.""
She wrapped both hands around her coffee cup.
"Laura told me about your recordings.""
I nodded.
"I heard them mention you.""
Melissa's face tightened.
"What exactly did Denise say?""
I played the recording.
When Tiffany's voice mentioned the girl before Ariana, Melissa closed her eyes.
Then Denise's voice came through the speaker.
"And what about the other one?""
Melissa pushed her coffee away.
"That's how it started.""
"How what started?""
"The threats. The lies. The way they made me feel like I was losing my mind.""
She reached into her bag and removed a photograph.
It showed her standing beside Tiffany at a restaurant.
They were smiling.
"Four years ago, I worked for a property management company. Denise was the director. Tiffany came in occasionally to help with administrative work.""
"What happened?""
"Tiffany told me she was having problems with her boyfriend. She said she needed someone she could trust.""
Melissa looked down.
"She borrowed my laptop. Then she borrowed money. Then she asked for access to an account I used for work.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you give it to her?""
"Yes.""
Her voice cracked.
"I thought we were friends.""
Within weeks, Melissa discovered that money had disappeared from an account she helped manage.
When she questioned Tiffany, Tiffany accused her of making unauthorized transfers.
Denise supported her daughter's story.
The company fired Melissa.
Her landlord received complaints about her behavior.
Her friends began receiving messages claiming she was unstable.
"Then one night," Melissa continued, "Denise came to my apartment.""
I held my breath.
"She told me I had two choices. Sign a statement accepting responsibility for the missing money or watch my brother lose everything.""
"What did you do?""
"I refused.""
Melissa touched the scar near her hairline.
"She grabbed me when I tried to leave. I fell against the edge of a table. Then she took my phone.""
I felt sick.
"Did you report it?""
"I tried. But Tiffany had already created a story about me stealing money. By the time I reached the police, I was terrified nobody would believe me.""
Laura placed a document on the table.
"Melissa eventually relocated. She didn't disappear. She was hiding.""
Melissa nodded.
"I spent four years trying to rebuild my life.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why come forward now?""
She met my eyes.
"Because I heard they're planning to take your father's house.""
I froze.
"What?""
Melissa pulled another document from her bag.
It was a copy of a business registration.
The company name was familiar.
The same company Laura had mentioned.
"Denise created this company before your father married her," Melissa explained.
"She used it to receive money from people who trusted her.""
"But why would she need Dad's house?""
"Because the company is in debt.""
Laura nodded.
"We found outstanding liabilities and several questionable property-related transactions.""
Melissa leaned toward me.
"There's something else. Denise doesn't want Tiffany to marry Brandon because she loves him.""
"Then why?""
"Brandon's family owns several commercial properties. Tiffany's marriage would give Denise access to investors she desperately needs.""
I stared at her.
"So the wedding is part of the plan?""
Melissa nodded.
"Brandon is the prize. Your father is the funding.""
I felt my hands trembling.
Then Melissa reached across the table and grabbed my wrist.
"There's one more thing you need to know.""
"What?""
"Four years ago, when Denise threatened me, Tiffany was there.""
My stomach tightened.
"Was she helping her mother?""
Melissa hesitated.
"At first, yes. But afterward, I overheard them arguing.""
"About what?""
Melissa's eyes filled.
"Tiffany wanted to stop. Denise told her that if she ever betrayed her, she would make sure everyone learned what Tiffany had done.""
I stared at her.
"What did Tiffany do?""
Melissa swallowed.
"She wasn't the first person Denise used. She was another victim before she became one of the people helping her.""
Before I could ask another question, Laura's phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What do you mean the documents have been filed?""
She listened.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Where?""
Another pause.
"All right. Send me the copy.""
She ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Laura turned her laptop toward us.
A property transfer document appeared on the screen.
My father's name was printed at the bottom.
His signature was beside it.
But the document was dated two days earlier.
May you like
And according to the filing, my father had already agreed to transfer ownership of our family home.
To Denise.
