Chapter 6: The Secret Account
Claire stopped pretending.
That was the first thing I noticed.
The nervous friend who had been sitting across from me disappeared.
In her place was someone colder.
Someone who had spent weeks preparing lies.
“What did Vanessa tell you?”” Claire asked.
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I watched her.
The way her fingers tightened around her coffee cup.
The way she avoided eye contact.
The way she suddenly looked like someone who had been caught.
“You knew about the second account,” I said.
Claire looked away.
“Emily…”
“Answer me.””
She sighed.
“Yes.””
The rain outside became louder.
“What was it?””
Claire was quiet.
Then she said:
“It was supposed to be temporary.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She looked at me.
“You don’t understand.””
“No. I don’t.””
“You have no idea what it’s like watching someone else get everything you wanted.””
I shook my head.
“Claire, you were my best friend.””
“And you were always the one people noticed.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You think this is because people noticed me?””
She laughed bitterly.
“Don’t act innocent.””
“I’m not.””
“Really?””
Her voice rose.
“Do you remember when we were younger? Every room we walked into, people asked about you.””
“That’s what this is about?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“It’s about feeling invisible.””
For a moment, I saw the pain beneath her anger.
The old Claire.
The person I knew.
But then I remembered the voicemail.
The stolen money.
The plan to destroy me.
Pain explained actions.
It didn’t excuse them.
“How much did you take?””
She didn’t answer.
“How much?””
“Twenty thousand.””
My chest tightened.
“And the wedding account?””
She swallowed.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked nervous.
“Someone else changed the plan.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Someone else?””
Claire looked toward the window.
And suddenly I understood.
She wasn’t alone.
“Who?””
No answer.
“Claire.””
She whispered:
“I didn’t know how far it would go.””
I leaned closer.
“Who helped you?””
Before she could respond, the coffee shop door opened.
Daniel walked in.
Claire immediately stood.
“You brought him?””
I looked at her.
“No.””
Daniel looked between us.
“I followed you.””
Claire laughed.
“Of course.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You need to tell us everything.””
She crossed her arms.
“Why? So Vanessa can destroy me?””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You destroyed yourself.””
Claire flinched.
Then she reached into her bag.
For a second, I thought she was going to pull out something dangerous.
Instead, she placed a folder on the table.
“I have proof.””
Daniel frowned.
“Proof of what?””
Claire looked at me.
“The person who wanted you blamed.””
She pushed the folder toward me.
I opened it.
Inside were copies of emails.
Payment records.
Messages.
And one name appeared repeatedly.
A name I recognized.
My own mother.
I stopped breathing.
“No.””
Daniel looked at the papers.
“Emily…”
I shook my head.
“That can’t be right.””
Claire’s voice softened.
“I didn’t want to involve her.””
I looked up.
“What are you saying?””
Claire hesitated.
Then she said:
“Your mother knew.””
The world seemed to tilt.
“My mother knew about the money?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
“She was the one who told me where to find the accounts.””
I stood up.
“Stop lying.””
Claire looked hurt.
“I’m not.””
“You expect me to believe my mother would do this?””
Claire looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“She didn’t want to hurt you.””
“Then why?””
“Because she thought she was protecting you.””
That made no sense.
“Protecting me from what?””
Claire’s face changed.
May you like
And for the first time, I saw genuine fear.
“From the truth about your father.””
