Chapter 2: What Claire Had on Her Phone
Ethan's eyes moved from the camera to Sophia.
"What is that camera doing there?"
Sophia's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Richard steadied himself against the wall.
His voice was quiet but firm.
"I installed it three days ago.
After the last time."
"The last time?" Ethan turned.
"What last time?"
Richard said nothing.
He walked slowly to the small side table, opened the drawer, and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
He held it out to his son.
Ethan took it.
His hands stilled as he read.
It was a letter.
Handwritten.
Dated six weeks ago.
*"If anything happens to Richard before the estate transfer is signed, everything goes to the children's charity.
Not to Ethan.
Not to his wife."*
It was Richard's own handwriting.
Sophia saw the letter.
Her face shifted — not grief, not shock.
Calculation.
"That means nothing," she said quietly.
"He could have written that himself just now."
Richard looked at her for a long moment.
"The lawyer has the original.
Signed and witnessed."
The room went completely still.
Then Ethan's sister, Claire — who had been silent in the doorway the entire time — spoke.
"Ethan…
I need to show you something.
On my phone.
From last night."
May you like
Sophia spun toward her.
"Don't you dare—"
