Chapter 4: My Sister’s Secret

Brooke came the next afternoon.

She didn’t bring flowers.

She didn’t apologize.

She brought excuses.

She walked into my hospital room wearing sunglasses and carrying a designer handbag.

As if she were visiting a restaurant.

Not the sister she had pushed.

Not the woman whose baby had almost been taken into an emergency situation.

“Claire.””

I looked at her.

“Why did you take my money?””

Her mouth opened.

No greeting.

No concern.

Straight to the question.

“I didn’t take it.””

“Then explain the transfer.””

She sat down.

“You’re making this bigger than it is.””

I stared at her.

“Really?””

She sighed.

“You have no idea what’s happening.””

“Then explain.””

She looked away.

That was when I realized something.

Brooke wasn’t sorry.

She was angry she got caught.

“The folder was a loan agreement,” she said.

“A loan?””

“Yes.””

“Between me and you?””

She nodded.

I laughed once.

Not because it was funny.

Because it was unbelievable.

“You wanted me to sign a loan agreement after already transferring money?””

“It was supposed to make everything legal.””

I stared at her.

“You transferred my money without permission and wanted me to sign afterward?””

She looked annoyed.

“You make it sound terrible.””

“It is terrible.””

Her expression hardened.

“You always think you’re better than me.””

There it was.

The real reason.

Not money.

Not paperwork.

Jealousy.

“I have never thought that.””

“Yes, you have.””

“Brooke—”

“You got everything.””

I stared.

“What?””

“You got the perfect husband. The perfect house. The perfect baby.””

My voice became quiet.

“You think my life is perfect?””

She shrugged.

“You don’t struggle like I do.””

I looked at her.

“You have no idea what I’ve struggled through.””

She stood.

“You know what? Maybe Mom and Dad were right.””

My heart sank.

“About what?””

“That you’ve changed.””

She walked toward the door.

Then stopped.

“Oh, and Claire?””

I looked up.

“What?””

Her hand touched the door handle.

“The folder wasn’t Dad’s idea.””

A chill went through me.

“Whose idea was it?””

She smiled sadly.

And that scared me.

“Ask Ethan why he never told you everything about your family.””

Then she left.

I sat there frozen.

Because for the first time, Brooke wasn’t attacking me.

She was planting something.

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And I didn’t know if it was a lie.

Or a warning.