Chapter 18 - The House That Had Been Watching Her
Police found eleven hidden cameras.
Eleven.
Bedroom hallway.
Kitchen.
Living room.
Dad's study.
Garage.
Guest room.
Even the small reading room where Emily called our mother when she was scared.
My sister stood in the doorway.
Her face was blank.
"He watched me?"
Rebecca nodded carefully.
"For years."
Emily turned toward Derek's old desk.
Then swept everything off it.
Books.
Pens.
A lamp.
A framed wedding photograph.
It shattered against the floor.
"I hate him."
Nobody told her not to.
She had earned the right to be angry.
Investigators recovered the server.
The recordings were devastating.
Derek discussing forged signatures.
Derek threatening employees.
Derek conspiring with Vane.
Derek bragging about manipulating Dad.
And one recording that made the entire room go silent.
Derek was speaking to Cynthia.
Emily was upstairs.
"I don't need her after the trust transfer."
Cynthia laughed.
"What about the marriage?"
"I'll divorce her."
"And the family?"
"They'll have nothing left to fight over."
I looked at Emily.
She stared at the screen.
No tears.
Not this time.
She simply said—
"Play it again."
Rebecca hesitated.
"Emily..."
"Play it."
We did.
She listened twice.
Then stood.
"Good."
I frowned.
"Good?"
She looked at me.
"Now I'll never miss him again."
Three weeks later, Emily filed for divorce.
But Derek had one final move.
From jail, through his attorney, he claimed Emily had participated in the fraud.
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And suddenly my sister wasn't only a victim.
She was a suspect.
