Chapter 6: The Daughter Who Was Also Trapped
For the first time in months, I didn't see Tiffany as my enemy.
I saw a frightened young woman sitting on the edge of her bed, clutching a photograph of a dead man.
But sympathy didn't erase what she had done.
She had stolen from Dad.
She had lied about me.
She had helped Denise turn our home into a battlefield.
And now she was asking me, without actually asking, to believe she had been trapped all along.
I pulled a chair closer.
"Start talking.""
Tiffany looked up.
"What?""
"Tell me everything. No tears. No excuses. Just the truth.""
She laughed weakly.
"You sound like Laura.""
"Good.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Mom has been controlling everything since I was sixteen.""
I said nothing.
"My father owned a construction company. He was successful, but he wasn't rich enough for Mom. She wanted more.""
"Why didn't he leave?""
"He tried.""
Tiffany looked toward the photograph.
"He discovered she'd been moving company money into accounts he didn't recognize. When he confronted her, she told him she had proof he'd been stealing from his own business.""
I felt a chill.
"Was it true?""
"No. At least, that's what he told me.""
"What happened?""
"He died in a car accident.""
I leaned forward.
"And you think Denise was involved?""
Tiffany shook her head.
"I don't know. But three weeks before he died, he told me something.""
"What?""
"He said that if anything happened to him, I should find a blue folder in his office.""
"Did you?""
She nodded.
"Mom found it first.""
"What was inside?""
"Bank records. Copies of emails. And a letter addressed to me.""
I stared at her.
"Where is it now?""
"I don't know.""
"You're telling me your mother may have been involved in your father's death, and you've done nothing?""
Tiffany's face twisted.
"You think I didn't try?""
She stood abruptly.
"When I was eighteen, I asked her about the folder. She locked me in the basement for hours.""
My anger faltered.
"She told everyone I was having a breakdown. She said if I ever accused her again, she'd have me declared incompetent and take control of my inheritance.""
I watched her pace.
"Then she started making me help with her business.""
"How?""
"She would ask me to open accounts, sign forms, transfer money. At first, I didn't understand what I was doing.""
"And later?""
Tiffany stopped.
"Later, I understood.""
The admission hung between us.
I stood.
"You could have said no.""
She looked at me.
"I know.""
"You could have warned Dad.""
"I know.""
"You could have told me.""
Her eyes filled.
"I was afraid.""
I shook my head.
"So was I.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Tiffany reached into the drawer of her nightstand and removed a small black phone.
My heart jumped.
"Is that the second phone?""
She nodded.
"Mom doesn't know I kept it.""
"What's on it?""
"Messages. Photos. Voice notes. Things she thought I'd deleted.""
I took a breath.
"Give it to Laura.""
Tiffany clutched the phone.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because if Mom finds out, she'll destroy me.""
I looked at her.
"She's already destroying you.""
Tiffany began crying again.
This time, I didn't comfort her.
Instead, I waited.
Finally, she handed me the phone.
"There's something you need to hear.""
She unlocked it and opened a folder.
Inside were several audio files.
One was dated four years earlier.
Melissa's name appeared in the description.
I pressed play.
Denise's voice filled the room.
"She signed it?""
A man answered.
"Not yet.""
"Then make her understand.""
"Denise, this has gone too far.""
There was a pause.
Then Denise said:
"Do you want to end up like Robert?""
The recording stopped.
I stared at Tiffany.
"Who was that man?""
"Her accountant. His name is Victor.""
"Robert was your father?""
She nodded.
I replayed the recording.
The name.
The threat.
The accountant's frightened voice.
Then another file caught my attention.
It was dated six months earlier.
I pressed play.
This time, I heard Tiffany.
"Mom, Ariana hasn't done anything to you.""
Denise answered immediately.
"She has access to your father's accounts.""
"Because she's his daughter.""
"Exactly. Which means she'll become a problem when we transfer everything.""
"She isn't going to sign anything.""
Denise laughed.
"She won't need to.""
Tiffany asked, "What does that mean?""
Denise's answer made my blood run cold.
"It means she'll be gone before your father realizes what happened.""
The recording ended.
I looked at Tiffany.
"What did she mean by gone?""
"I don't know.""
"You've heard this before?""
Tiffany nodded.
"Mom said she was going to send you away. She said she had friends who could make sure nobody believed you if you accused her.""
I sat down.
Suddenly, the anonymous messages made sense.
The warnings.
The threats.
The strange feeling that someone was watching me.
I looked at the phone.
"Why are you giving me this now?""
Tiffany stared at her hands.
"Because Brandon found out about the power-of-attorney papers. He's planning to cancel the wedding.""
I frowned.
"Then let him.""
"Mom won't allow it.""
"That's his decision.""
Tiffany looked at me with desperate eyes.
"You don't understand. Mom told me that if the wedding doesn't happen, she'll tell Brandon's family that I stole money from them.""
"Did you?""
She nodded.
"Some of it.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
"Forty thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Forty thousand?""
"She made me transfer it into the company. She said she'd return it before anyone noticed.""
I stood.
"That's not an excuse.""
"I know.""
"Brandon deserves the truth.""
"I know!""
She shouted it so loudly that we both froze.
Then she covered her mouth.
Her shoulders began shaking.
"I know, Ariana. I know what I've done.""
I looked away.
I couldn't forgive her.
Not yet.
But I could see that she was finally telling the truth.
My phone rang.
Laura.
I answered.
"Did you get the documents?""
"Yes," I said.
"And something much worse.""
I explained the recordings.
Laura listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she said, "Ariana, I need you and Tiffany to come in immediately.""
"Why?""
"Because we've just received a report that Denise is attempting to complete the property transfer today.""
I looked at the clock.
It was nearly four in the afternoon.
"Can she do that?""
"She's trying. We've contacted the appropriate authorities, but we need your father's cooperation.""
"I'll talk to him.""
"Don't go alone.""
I looked at Tiffany.
She was still holding the photograph of her biological father.
"I won't.""
We went downstairs together.
Denise was in the dining room, speaking with a wedding coordinator.
She looked up when she saw us.
Her eyes immediately narrowed.
"Why are you two together?""
Tiffany stepped forward.
"I need to talk to you, Mom.""
Denise smiled.
"Not now, sweetheart. We're discussing the seating arrangements.""
"No. Now.""
The wedding coordinator quietly gathered her papers.
Denise watched her leave.
Then she turned toward Tiffany.
"What's wrong?""
Tiffany took out the black phone.
"I have the recordings.""
Denise's smile disappeared.
"What recordings?""
"The ones you thought I deleted.""
For the first time, Denise looked genuinely afraid.
Then she recovered.
She walked toward Tiffany and held out her hand.
"Give me the phone.""
"No.""
"Tiffany.""
"No, Mom.""
Denise's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
Tiffany's voice trembled.
"I know exactly what I'm doing.""
Denise suddenly slapped her.
The sound echoed through the dining room.
I stepped forward.
"Don't touch her!""
Denise turned toward me.
"Stay out of this!""
Tiffany held her cheek.
Then she looked at her mother.
"You told me Dad was a coward. You told me he abandoned us. But he was trying to expose you, wasn't he?""
Denise went completely still.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she whispered:
"Who told you about Robert?""
Tiffany held up the phone.
"I heard the recording.""
Denise looked at the device.
Then at me.
And suddenly, her fear turned into something much colder.
"You stupid girl," she whispered.
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded document.
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to use this.""
I looked at the paper.
It was a medical authorization form.
My name was printed near the top.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What is that?""
Denise smiled.
"Something your father signed yesterday.""
Tiffany stepped closer.
"Mom, what did you do?""
Denise held the document up.
"Your sister is going to need a little help. Apparently, she's been making accusations, recording private conversations, and behaving erratically.""
I stared at the paper.
It appeared to authorize an emergency psychiatric evaluation.
But there was something else.
A second page.
A declaration claiming I had threatened members of the household.
And beneath it was a witness signature.
Tiffany.
I looked at her.
She went pale.
"I didn't sign that.""
Denise smiled.
"Of course you did.""
Then she reached into her handbag again.
This time, she pulled out a small envelope.
She placed it on the table.
Inside was a photograph of me standing outside the house the previous evening.
On the back, someone had written four words:
*She knows about Robert.*
Denise looked at me.
"Now, Ariana, I think it's time we discussed what happens when people refuse to cooperate.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Laura appeared.
*Police are on their way. Do not leave the house.*
But before I could show anyone, Denise looked toward the front door.
Then she smiled.
"You're too late.""
The doorbell rang.
And when Denise opened the door, the man standing outside was not a police officer.
It was Brandon.
He was holding a document.
And behind him stood my father, Khalil.
His face was pale.
His hands were shaking.
May you like
He looked directly at me and said:
"Ariana, tell me the truth. Did you really threaten to hurt Denise?""
