Chapter 10 - THE FAMILY DINNER THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Diane demanded that Emily come home.
Emily agreed.
But this time, she didn't go alone.
Daniel came with her.
Ryan was already there.
Melissa sat beside him.
No one spoke when Emily entered.
Diane stood at the kitchen counter.
“You've been digging.”
Emily placed the file on the table.
“I found the trust.”
Diane's face changed.
Ryan closed his eyes.
Melissa whispered,
“Oh God.”
Emily looked at her.
“You knew?”
Melissa shook her head.
“Not everything.”
“Enough?”
Melissa began crying.
“I knew Ryan was using money.”
“Whose?”
“I thought it was his.”
“You never asked?”
“I was afraid.”
Emily turned to Ryan.
“You knew about the trust.”
Ryan nodded.
“How much did Mom take?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I don't know exactly.”
Diane slammed her hand against the counter.
“Enough!”
Everyone went silent.
Diane looked at Emily.
“You think this is all about money.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what it is about.”
Diane's eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, Emily saw something besides anger.
Fear.
“You shouldn't have opened that letter.”
Emily's voice was quiet.
“Why?”
“Because your father wasn't the man you think he was.”
“Then tell me who he was.”
Diane shook her head.
“You'll never forgive me.”
“You're already asking me to forgive things I didn't know existed.”
Diane looked toward Ryan.
“Tell her.”
Ryan froze.
“Mom…”
“Tell her.”
Ryan stood.
He looked at Emily.
“Dad was investigating someone.”
“Who?”
Ryan swallowed.
“Someone inside his company.”
“Who?”
“I never saw his name.”
Diane interrupted.
“Stop.”
Emily looked at her.
“You know.”
Diane said nothing.
Emily moved closer.
“Who was Dad afraid of?”
Diane whispered,
“Your father was afraid of the wrong person.”
Emily waited.
Diane looked directly at her.
“He should have been afraid of Jonathan.”
Emily's heart stopped.
“What?”
Diane nodded toward the file.
“Jonathan Reed didn't protect your father.”
“He destroyed him.”
Before Emily could respond, the lights went out.
The house fell into darkness.
A second later, someone's phone rang.
Diane looked terrified.
Not angry.
Terrified.
May you like
She whispered,
“They found us.”
