Chapter 4 - What Chloe Believed
Chloe arrived alone on Saturday.
Her red car stopped outside the gate, and she leaned on the horn until Carter walked down the snowy drive.
“You changed the code,” Chloe said.
“Yes.”
“Let me in.”
“No.”
Chloe stepped out of the car. Her dark hair whipped across her face in the wind.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Enjoying what?”
“Watching us lose everything.”
Carter remained on the other side of the gate.
“I paid your rent twice last year.”
“And you reminded me every time.”
“I reminded you after you asked for money a third time.”
Chloe folded her arms.
“You have a six-million-dollar house.”
“I have a house Grandma left to me.”
“She wanted us all to benefit.”
“Were you there when she said that?”
Chloe looked away.
Their grandmother had called Chloe repeatedly during her final year. Chloe had ignored most of the calls because she found conversations about illness depressing.
“You always thought you were her favorite,” Chloe muttered.
“I was the one who showed up.”
The words struck harder than Carter intended, but she did not take them back.
Chloe approached the gate.
“Dad says the will can be challenged.”
“Probate ended two years ago.”
“He also says Grandma signed another document.”
Carter’s attention sharpened.
“What document?”
Chloe’s expression changed. For a second, she looked frightened.
Then she smiled.
“You’ll see on Monday.”
She returned to her car and drove away.
Carter stood at the gate until the taillights disappeared into the storm.
When she called Rachel, her attorney became silent.
“A second document could be a bluff,” Rachel said. “But do not assume it is harmless.”
“What should I do?”
“Photograph everything. Keep every message. Do not allow them inside.”
May you like
Carter looked toward the house Evelyn had trusted her to protect.
“I won’t.”
