Chapter 9 - THE NEIGHBORHOOD SECRET
Despite the trial's conclusion, echoes of the past refused to quiet down completely. The scandal had shaken the city's elite, but it hit hardest in the working-class neighborhood of East Ridge, where Liana had lived before her tragedy.
One afternoon, Liana returned to her old apartment building to collect the last of her personal belongings. The red brick building was worn, its hallways smelling of stale coffee and old floor wax. As she walked down the third-floor corridor with Leo in a front carrier, she noticed her former neighbor, Mrs. Gable—an elderly woman who had lived across the hall for thirty years—standing near the doorway, watching her with wide, nervous eyes.
"Liana?" Mrs. Gable whispered, her voice trembling. "Is that... is that really the baby?"
"It’s Leo, Mrs. Gable," Liana said, offering a warm smile. "He’s home."
Mrs. Gable pulled Liana into her small apartment, quickly locking the triple deadbolts on the door. The living room was cluttered with dusty knick-knacks and framed photographs.
"Liana, child," Mrs. Gable said, clutching a faded cardigan around her shoulders. "There’s something you don't know. Something I was too terrified to tell you when the men in suits came to your door last month."
Liana’s smile faded. "What are you talking about, Mrs. Gable?"
"The night before you took Leo to Mercy General," Mrs. Gable explained, her eyes darting nervously toward the window. "A black sedan was parked outside our building for six hours. A woman in a expensive beige coat got out and spoke to the landlord, Mr. Henderson."
Liana felt a cold drop of sweat trace her spine. "A beige coat? Julianna Varric?"
"I saw Mr. Henderson take an envelope from her," Mrs. Gable continued, her hands shaking violently. "The next morning, Mr. Henderson suddenly raised your rent by four hundred dollars, demanding it immediately—which is why you were forced to work those extra night shifts and couldn't afford a private pediatrician when Leo got his fever!"
Liana stared at the old woman in disbelief. Julianna hadn't just taken advantage of an unexpected tragedy at Mercy General—she had actively created the financial trap that drove Liana into despair in the first place. She had targeted Liana weeks before Leo was even taken to the hospital.
"Why didn't Henderson say anything?" Liana asked, her voice tight.
"Henderson bought a brand-new car two days after your baby's funeral," Mrs. Gable whispered. "He told everyone he won the lottery. Liana... he sold you out."
Liana stood up, her blood boiling with a quiet, fierce rage. The web of betrayal was larger than she had imagined, extending from the grand halls of the Varric estate down to the very hallway she had called home.
She touched Leo's soft cheek, ensuring he was warm and comfortable. "Thank you, Mrs. Gable," Liana said calmly. "You gave me the last piece of the puzzle."
May you like
She pulled out her phone and dialed Matteo’s direct line.
"Matteo," Liana said when he answered. "We need to talk to my old landlord."
