Chapter 2: The Phone Call He Didn't Want Me to Hear
Monday morning, Daniel's phone lit up before he even finished his coffee.
The first bill notification had arrived.
He stared at the screen.
Then stared at it again.
"What is this?"
I looked up from my breakfast.
"Your half of the mortgage."
The color drained from his face.
"My half— Esme, this is nearly two thousand dollars."
"Yes."
"I don't— I can't just—" He set the phone down hard.
"I don't have that sitting in my account right now."
"You might want to move some things around then."
He pushed back from the table.
"This isn't fair.
You're punishing me."
"I'm doing exactly what you asked.
Comfort is over.
Expenses are split.
Those were your words, Daniel."
He went quiet.
Then his phone rang again.
He looked at the screen and something shifted in his expression.
Something I hadn't seen before.
He walked out of the kitchen to take the call.
But I heard one sentence before the door closed behind him.
"Megan, I need to talk to you about the money."
I set down my fork.
Because the way he said it — low, careful, almost guilty — didn't sound like a brother calling his sister.
It sounded like something else entirely.
---
What did Esme just realize?
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The truth behind Daniel and Megan's arrangement is darker than anyone expected.
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