Chapter 12 - AN UNEXPECTED ALLIANCE

I never thought I would sit across from Diane Caldwell again.

Especially not willingly.

But sometimes the person you hate is the only person who knows where the enemy is hiding.

The meeting place was an old restaurant downtown.

Diane arrived alone.

No lawyers.

No cameras.

No performance.

Just Diane.

For the first time, she looked tired.

“You look surprised.”

“I expected you to bring an army.”

She smiled weakly.

“I used to have one.”

I sat down.

“Talk.”

She looked at me.

“You really are your father’s daughter.”

I ignored the comment.

“Michael.”

Her expression changed.

“He was always smarter than me.”

“Are you admitting you worked with him?”

She looked down.

“Yes.”

The word hit harder than I expected.

“You destroyed my family.”

“I know.”

“You ruined my father’s life.”

“I know.”

“Then why should I listen to you?”

She looked at me.

“Because Michael is worse.”

I stayed silent.

Diane took a folder from her bag.

“I thought I controlled everything.”

She pushed it toward me.

“But Michael was controlling me.”

Inside were contracts.

Bank transfers.

Photos.

Everything.

My hands shook.

“What is this?”

“Proof.”

“Proof of what?”

Her eyes met mine.

“That Michael planned your father’s death.”

The room felt like it stopped moving.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“You’re lying.”

Diane shook her head.

“Emma, I have lied about many things.”

She swallowed.

“But not this.”

I looked through the documents.

There were dates.

Meetings.

Payments.

Michael’s signature.

My anger changed into something else.

A cold determination.

Diane leaned closer.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What?”

“He knows you have the video.”

My heart dropped.

“How?”

“Because Ryan told someone.”

I turned slowly.

“What?”

Diane looked toward the window.

“He didn’t mean to.”

My stomach tightened.

“What are you saying?”

She whispered:

“Your husband has been followed for weeks.”

I stood up.

“Where is Ryan?”

Diane looked at me.

“That’s the problem.”

“What?”

She hesitated.

“Michael already has him.”

I grabbed my phone.

No answer.

Again.

No answer.

Then a message appeared.

From Ryan.

Only three words.

“Don’t trust anyone.”

My blood ran cold.

Because underneath his message…

was a photo.

Ryan was sitting in a dark room.

His face bruised.

And behind him stood Michael.

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TO BE CONTINUED…