Chapter 13 - ELEANOR'S LAST MOVE
Eleanor had Samantha kidnapped because she feared what Samantha knew.
But Samantha had recorded their conversation.
The recording contained everything.
Eleanor admitted to manipulating Brendan.
She admitted ordering the financial restrictions.
She admitted threatening employees.
And she revealed the most shocking fact of all.
Brendan wasn't the mastermind.
He had been controlled by his mother since childhood.
But that didn't excuse him.
He had chosen to obey.
Federal agents arrested Eleanor.
Brendan surrendered two days later.
When he was brought into court, he looked smaller.
Almost ordinary.
He looked at me.
“Nora.”
I didn't answer.
“I loved you.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“You don't know what happened.”
“I know exactly what happened.”
I placed Chloe's photograph on the table.
“You loved having someone you could control.”
He looked down.
“I didn't mean for Chloe to die.”
“I know.”
That sentence seemed to destroy him more than anger could have.
Because I wasn't screaming.
May you like
I wasn't seeking revenge.
I was simply telling the truth.
