CHAPTER 10: THE TRUTH
The board meeting was in two weeks. Daniel and I were spending every moment together, perfecting our performance.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Karen.
I kept seeing her face, hearing her voice, remembering the night my husband died.
"I need to tell you something," I said one night, over dinner.
Daniel looked up. "What?"
"About my husband. About what really happened."
He set down his fork. "I'm listening."
"When I found out about the affair, I confronted him. He laughed. He said I was nothing, that Karen was everything. And then he hit me."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"I hit him back," I said. "He fell and hit his head. He was dead before I could call for help."
"Sarah—"
"It wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to kill him. But Karen knew I was there, and she told everyone I was a monster. She told them I murdered him in cold blood."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because she wanted Ava. She wanted to raise my daughter with her new husband. She wanted to erase me."
I didn't realize I was crying until Daniel reached across the table and took my hand.
"Sarah, I believe you."
"Why? You barely know me."
"I know you protect your children," he said. "I know you put them first. I know you're not a killer."
He was right.
I wasn't a killer.
But Karen was.
And she was coming for me.
"I need to tell you something else," I said.
"What?"
"Karen's husband. The one she married after mine died. He's your cousin."
Daniel's face went pale.
"Excuse me?"
"She married into your family. She's been manipulating you for years. She's the one who's been feeding information to your brother."
"How do you know?"
"Because I saw her at your company's headquarters. The day before I met you. She was meeting with Richard."
Daniel stared at me.
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"Are you telling me my brother is working with the woman who killed your husband?"
"I'm telling you she's been playing this game for years. And she's not going to stop until she wins."
