Chapter 9
I didn’t go alone.
I told the sender I would meet in a public place or not at all.
Ten minutes later, a new location appeared.
A coffee shop downtown.
Ryan wanted to come.
I refused.
“You need to stay with the children.”
“They won’t even let me inside.”
“Carla is with them.”
“Emily—”
“This involves my mother.”
“And my mother.”
I looked at him.
“Your mother has controlled enough of my life.”
He stopped arguing.
I drove downtown with Officer Bennett’s case number saved on my phone and Carla tracking my location.
The woman was already sitting in the back corner.
My aunt.
She looked up.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“You look like Margaret,” she said.
My mother.
I sat across from her.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
She gave a sad smile.
“That was Diane’s idea.”
I stared.
“What?”
“My name is Rebecca.”
“I know.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Your mother and Diane were best friends before either of them married.”
I said nothing.
“Diane was different then. Charming. Ambitious. She wanted money more than anything.”
“What does this have to do with me?”
Rebecca folded her hands.
“William Hayes dated your mother first.”
I felt the room tilt.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Before Diane?”
“Before all of us understood what he was.”
Rebecca continued.
“William liked women he could control. Margaret left him. Diane didn’t.”
“My mother never mentioned him.”
“She didn’t want you anywhere near that family.”
“But I married Ryan.”
“I know.”
“Did my mother know Ryan was William’s son?”
Rebecca nodded.
My stomach tightened.
“She knew?”
“She begged you not to marry him.”
Memories came back.
My mother crying before my wedding.
Telling me Ryan’s family was dangerous.
I had thought she hated Diane.
I had never understood why.
“What secret?”
Rebecca looked toward the window.
“William stole money from your grandmother.”
“What?”
“Your grandmother invested in one of his first developments. He forged documents and pushed her out.”
The inheritance I later received.
The money Ryan used for our house.
It had all been connected.
“Thomas discovered it years later,” Rebecca said. “That’s why he changed the property deed. He considered the house partial repayment.”
I covered my mouth.
“And Diane?”
“Knew everything.”
“Why does she hate my children?”
“Because Ethan and Lily connect the two families legally.”
I frowned.
“So?”
“If Ryan inherits Hayes Development and remains married to you, you become the person most capable of proving the company was built partly on stolen assets.”
I stared at her.
“That sounds insane.”
“It is.”
“But why hurt Lily?”
Rebecca’s eyes filled with anger.
“Because Diane wanted you to leave Ryan.”
“She could have just told me about Jessica.”
“Jessica isn’t his mistress.”
“I know.”
“She wanted you angry enough to file for divorce before Ryan turned thirty-five.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas added another condition to the trust.”
My pulse quickened.
“What condition?”
“If Ryan’s marriage ended because of documented abuse, fraud, or adultery committed by him, control of the disputed shares would temporarily pass to the trustee.”
Me.
I understood.
“So Diane wanted me gone, but not because of something Ryan did.”
“Exactly.”
“She wanted me to look unstable.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Angry. Violent. Dangerous.”
My slap.
The police report.
Diane had provoked me.
“She wanted me arrested.”
“Yes.”
I felt sick.
“And the children?”
“Collateral damage.”
My hands clenched.
Rebecca leaned closer.
“But she made one mistake.”
“What?”
“She didn’t know about the kitchen camera.”
I almost laughed.
Then the coffee shop door opened.
Ryan walked in.
I stood.
“I told you not to come.”
“I know.”
His face was white.
“What happened?”
He held up his phone.
“Mom just called me.”
“And?”
“She said she’ll return every dollar.”
Rebecca went still.
Ryan continued.
“She wants one thing.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“The DNA report and William’s will.”
Rebecca whispered, “Don’t do it.”
Ryan nodded.
“I know.”
Then he looked back at me.
“She also said if we refuse, she’s going to the police.”
“For what?”
Ryan swallowed.
“Murder.”
I stared at him.
“Whose murder?”
May you like
He looked at Rebecca.
“My father’s.”
