2

That night was hell.

Crueler.

For hours, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying the numbers I had seen over and over in my mind.

What could the money have been used for?

What had he been hiding from me?

And why did it involve them?

My heart raced relentlessly, pounding as though it was trying to escape my body.

With shaking hands, I grabbed my phone.

I didn’t think. I couldn’t afford to think.

I typed out a message to Hailey first, my immediate younger sister. Then to Joanne, the youngest of us all. Two out of the three people who had been smiling to my face while bleeding me dry behind my back for years.

Joanne replied almost immediately.

'You are still awake? Hope there’s no problem?'

I stared at her message for a long time before responding.

'No, I typed. I just want to see you. Talk. Make plans for the future.'

'Okay. I’ll be there. Goodnight.'

I dropped my phone on the bed.

I had sacrificed so much for my family. Too much. 

I had given blindly and trusted without conditions.

In a couple of hours, I would finally understand the direction in which the boat was drifting.

And whether it was headed for shore or straight into rocks.

I finally slept off.

The ringing of my phone dragged me back into reality.

Hailey.

I groaned softly, turning my face away from the sunlight creeping in through the curtains. I slowly reached for my phone and answered.

“Hey. Good morning.” she said cheerfully. Too cheerfully. “I just saw your message. I’m already on my way back. I will be there on time.”

“Okay.” I replied, my voice rough with sleep. “Safe journey.”

I hung up without waiting for her response.

It took a few seconds for the realization to hit me.

Hailey hadn’t been in the country for days.

She had been on vacation.

And the timing...

My stomach dropped.

Coincidentally, it had been around the same time Asher had traveled out of the country for work.

A lump formed in my throat so fast it nearly made me choke. My chest tightened as a terrifying thought tried to claw its way to my mind.

No.

There was no way.

Asher wouldn’t do that to me.

Not with my sister.

Not after everything we had been through. Not after Jake. Not after the life we built from the scratch.

I shook my head, forcing the thought away.

I refused to let paranoia take control.

I dressed quickly, grabbed my keys and stepped into the garage.

This was my first time leaving the house in weeks.

Since my baby.

The engine roared to life, and I zoomed out of the driveway without looking back.

The road felt unfamiliar, even though I had driven it a thousand times before.

I felt like a ghost moving through a world that no longer recognized me.

By the time I pulled up in front of my childhood home, my hands were numb from gripping the steering wheel too tightly.

Mom stepped out almost immediately, shook was written all over her face.

“You didn’t call before coming.” she said as she approached the car.

“Yeah.” I replied quietly. “No need to.”

My voice almost betrayed me. I quickly looked away, blinking hard to stop the tears from spilling. Not yet. Not until I know the truth.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, concern flickering across her face. “It’s unlike you to show up like this.”

I finally met her eyes but decided not to reply.

“What would you care for?” she added quickly. “You must be tired. Let me get you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” I cut in. “I’m here for an answer.”

Confusion and innocence battled for dominance on her face.

Years ago, that look would have disarmed me completely.

But not anymore.

That same woman had taken over a million dollars from my family through deception and silence.

I was done being a fool.

“I’m listening." she said cautiously.

I swallowed hard, locking my gaze onto hers. My fists clenched at my sides as I struggled to keep my anger contained.

“What is the $20000 payment for?”

For a split second, I saw it fear on her face.

Then she masked it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.,” she said.

“Stop trying to play me, Mom.” I snapped. “I don’t even know if you still deserve that name.” My voice rose despite my effort to control it. “I saw the statements. I know you’ve been getting paid every month for over five years. Not just you, Hailey and Joanne too. The three people I trusted most.”

I stepped closer.

“What are those payments for?” I demanded. “What are you keeping from me?”

I was shaking now. Boiling.

That money didn’t belong to Asher alone.

We built that company together.

I worked myself to exhaustion to get it where it was.

“It’s not what you think.” Mom said quickly. “Your husband has just been… generous.”

She couldn’t even look at me.

“I forgave you once." I whispered, my voice breaking. “And this is what I get in return?”

“Leave your father out of this." she snapped, her tone suddenly cold.

“How is this any different?” I shot back. “All you’ve ever cared about is yourself and your pocket! You told us our father was dead while he was alive and sending you money every month!”

“That situation is different.”

“How?” I asked quietly. My eyes were glowing with anger. “If you cared about me, about my family, you wouldn’t keep secrets from me.”

She broke.

Her shoulders slumped, and tears streamed down her face.

“I didn’t know what else to do” she sobbed. “I was pushed into a corner. I wanted to tell you. I tried to resist. But I gave in. It was for you. For what I thought was best for our family”

“If lying to me is what you think is best" I said coldly. “then you don’t deserve to be called my mother.”

“I’m sorry” she cried. “I really am. But I’m not the one to blame.”

She looked up at me, eyes red.

“It’s Hailey.”

My heart stopped.

“What?” I whispered.

She swallowed hard.

“Hailey’s son… is his.”