Chapter 4: The Secret Behind The Accident
The silence after Claire’s words was worse than any confession.
“You knew about the video,” I said.
Claire looked away.
“That’s not what matters.””
“It’s exactly what matters.””
She walked to the window.
Rain tapped against the glass.
The same sound I heard in the video.
“The night your father died wasn’t simple,” she said.
I stared at her.
“You’re admitting it?””
“I’m admitting there are things you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She didn’t.
Instead, she reached for her phone.
“I need you to leave.””
I laughed.
“Leave my father’s house?””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Your father left it to me.””
“Did he?””
The question hit her.
Hard.
“You found the other documents.””
It wasn’t a question.
It was confirmation.
I stepped closer.
“What did you do, Claire?””
She shook her head.
“You think I killed him?””
I didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Her face changed.
“You’re just like him.””
“Like who?””
“Your father.””
The way she said it made my stomach turn.
“You both thought you could control everything.””
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door.
Neither of us moved.
Then the door opened.
A man stood there.
Late fifties.
Gray hair.
I recognized him immediately.
Dad’s attorney.
Robert Miller.
He looked at Claire.
Then at me.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to come here.””
Claire whispered:
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Robert held up a folder.
“I disagree.””
He walked inside.
“Daniel asked me to deliver this if Ethan discovered the truth.””
My heart raced.
“You knew?””
Robert nodded.
“For months.””
Claire stepped forward.
“Robert, don’t.””
He ignored her.
“Your father suspected someone was trying to manipulate his estate.””
“Who?””
Robert looked at Claire.
Nobody spoke.
Then he opened the folder.
Inside was another copy of the will.
The real one.
My name was written on the first page.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Your father changed everything three weeks before the accident.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“Stop.””
Robert continued.
“He also requested that evidence be collected if anything happened to him.””
“What evidence?””
Robert looked at me.
“The video.””
I felt dizzy.
“Dad knew?””
“He suspected.””
“Suspected Claire?””
Robert didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Claire suddenly grabbed the folder.
Robert pulled it away.
“Don’t make this worse.””
Her voice cracked.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw something besides anger.
I saw fear.
“Your father wasn’t killed because of money.””
I froze.
“What?””
Claire swallowed.
“He found out what Daniel’s business partner was doing.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the door.
Then whispered a name.
A name I had never expected.
“My uncle.””
I stared.
“My uncle?””
Claire nodded.
“Your father discovered someone close to both of us had been stealing from him for years.””
Robert looked shocked.
“You never told me that.””
“Because Daniel told me not to.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Claire.
The woman I thought betrayed my father.
The woman I thought caused his death.
“Then why hide the video?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was there.””
The words hung in the air.
“I was in the car behind him.””
My heartbeat slowed.
“Why?””
She looked down.
“Because your father called me that night.””
“And?””
She whispered:
“He told me he knew who was trying to kill him.””
Before I could ask another question, Robert’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What?””
A pause.
Then he looked at me.
“Ethan…”
“What?””
Robert lowered the phone.
“The police just found something near the accident site.””
“What did they find?””
May you like
He stared at the floor.
“Another vehicle.””