Chapter 6 - THE MOTHER'S CONFESSION
Matthew couldn't move.
His mother stood before him.
For the first time in his life, he saw fear in her eyes.
Not anger.
Not arrogance.
Fear.
"You hired them?"
Evelyn nodded.
"To scare Jessica."
Matthew's voice shook.
"And Grace?"
"I didn't know they had her."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I swear."
Another crash came from upstairs.
The twins began crying.
Matthew pulled them close.
Evelyn looked at the children.
"I never wanted them hurt."
"You threatened Jessica with them."
"I wanted her to leave."
"Why?"
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Because she found the accounts."
Matthew stared.
"How much?"
"Thirty-two million."
His stomach dropped.
"Where did it go?"
"Michael moved it."
"And you?"
"I signed documents."
Matthew stared at her.
"You helped him."
"I was afraid."
"Of Michael?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"Of your father."
Matthew froze.
His father had died seven years earlier.
"What does Dad have to do with this?"
Evelyn looked toward the darkness.
"Everything."
She told him the truth.
Years earlier, Matthew's father had created a network of shell companies.
He had used Matthew's name.
When he died, Michael continued the operation.
Evelyn had been trapped inside it.
Then Jessica discovered the evidence.
She threatened to expose everything.
Evelyn panicked.
She hired people to frighten her.
But things escalated.
Jessica disappeared.
Then Grace entered the house.
Matthew whispered:
"Why did Grace come here?"
Evelyn looked at him.
"I don't know."
A gunshot exploded upstairs.
The twins screamed.
Matthew moved.
Evelyn grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait."
Another gunshot.
Then silence.
Matthew couldn't wait.
He rushed upstairs.
The hallway was empty.
A door stood open.
Inside, two men were unconscious.
Grace was gone.
A broken window hung open.
Matthew ran toward it.
Below, a black SUV sped away.
He grabbed the radio.
"Track that vehicle!"
His security team responded immediately.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
"Hello?"
Michael's voice.
"You want your housekeeper back?"
Matthew clenched his jaw.
"Where is she?"
"You have something I need."
"The notebook?"
"And the drive."
Matthew looked toward the office.
"What do you want?"
"Bring both to the old warehouse on Harbor Island."
"Why?"
Michael laughed.
"Because you're finally going to learn what your wife discovered."
The call ended.
Matthew looked at Evelyn.
"You're coming with me."
She shook her head.
"No."
"You know these people."
"I know enough to know they'll kill you."
Matthew stared at her.
"Then tell me everything before I go."
Evelyn hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Grace isn't a cleaning lady."
Matthew froze.
"What?"
"She changed her name."
"Who is she?"
May you like
Evelyn looked at him.
"She's Jessica's sister."
