CHAPTER 4: The Confrontation
That night, Mara walked back into the house with the files in her arms.
Her mother was waiting.
So was Paige.
“You went in there?” Judith snapped.
Mara dropped the files onto the table.
“Yes.”
Paige’s face drained of color as the documents spread out.
“This is ridiculous—” Paige started.
“Is it?” Mara cut in, pressing play on the recorder.
Their father’s voice echoed again.
Paige staggered back.
Judith looked between them, confusion turning into horror.
“No… this can’t be true…”
Mara’s voice was steady now.
“You knew, didn’t you?” she said to Paige. “That’s why you were so confident today.”
Paige’s composure shattered.
“I deserved it!” she shouted. “I stayed! I sacrificed everything while you left!”
“You stole,” Mara replied quietly.
The truth hung heavy in the air.
May you like
Unavoidable.
Final.
