Chapter 10 - Laura Left One Final Recording
The flash drive contained an audio file nobody noticed at first.
It was named E.
Richard assumed it meant Ethan.
He opened it.
Laura’s voice filled the room.
“Richard, if you’re hearing this, I need you to listen before you blame
yourself.”
He stopped breathing.
Her voice sounded alive.
Tired.
Afraid.
But alive.
“I should have told you sooner.”
Richard covered his mouth.
Laura explained that she had suspected Stephen for months.
Rebecca had defended him.
Then Laura discovered the shell companies.
She began collecting evidence.
“I didn’t tell you because you would have confronted them.”
Richard laughed through tears.
She knew him.
“You would have tried to protect me before I could prove anything.”
Ethan sat beside him.
Richard put an arm around his son.
Laura continued.
“If something happens to me, protect Ethan from the story people will
tell him.”
Richard frowned.
“What story?”
Then Laura said:
“Rebecca believes she is entitled to this family because of what my
father did to hers.”
Richard paused the recording.
He had never heard of any conflict between their fathers.
Denise looked equally confused.
Laura continued.
“My father destroyed Rebecca’s father financially. I only learned last
month.”
There it was.
Another layer.
Rebecca’s motive had not begun with greed.
May you like
It had begun with a grievance older than Ethan.
And Laura had inherited a debt she never created.
