Chapter 5: The Woman at the Door
Claire stood in the office doorway with a suitcase beside her.
Emma stared.
“Claire?””
Claire's face was pale.
David stepped forward.
“What are you doing here?””
Claire looked at Victoria.
Victoria shook her head.
“Don't.””
Claire ignored her.
“I came because I think you deserve the truth.””
David's eyes hardened.
“You have ten seconds.””
Claire swallowed.
“I didn't forge your signature.””
David said nothing.
“But I helped Victoria move the money.””
Emma's heart sank.
Victoria whispered, “Claire…”
“I can't do this anymore.””
Claire looked at Emma.
“I'm sorry.””
Emma shook her head.
“Why?””
Claire's eyes filled.
“Because Victoria told me you were stealing from your father.””
“What?””
“She said you were using his money for drugs.””
Emma stared at her.
“What?””
David's face turned furious.
“My daughter has never used drugs.””
“I know that now.””
“You didn't know it then?””
“I believed Victoria.””
Emma's voice trembled.
“You believed I was stealing from my own father?””
Claire looked down.
“She showed me bank records.””
“They were fake,” David said.
“Yes.””
“Who created them?””
Claire didn't answer.
David stepped closer.
“Who?””
“Victoria.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Claire, stop.””
“No.””
Claire turned toward her sister.
“You told me it was temporary.””
“It was.””
“You said you'd replace every dollar.””
“I did.””
“You replaced some.””
David's eyes narrowed.
“Some?””
Claire wiped her face.
“Victoria moved the money into different accounts. Some went into investments. Some paid household bills. Some went toward the house.””
David looked around.
“This house?””
Claire nodded.
Emma felt sick.
Victoria stepped forward.
“I was trying to keep the house.””
“You didn't have to steal from Emma to do that.””
Victoria's voice broke.
“I was scared.””
David stared at her.
“Of what?””
“Losing everything.””
“You had me.””
Victoria laughed through tears.
“That was exactly what I was afraid of.””
David looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria's eyes moved to Emma.
“She was always going to be your priority.””
Emma whispered, “So you took my money?””
“I thought if I made myself useful enough, you would finally see me as your family.””
David shook his head.
“I did see you as family.””
“No.””
“I loved you.””
“You loved her more.””
“She was my child.””
“And I was your wife.””
David's face tightened.
“Those aren't competing positions.””
Victoria looked at Emma.
“You never understood that.””
Emma stood straight.
“I understood it better than you did.””
Victoria's expression changed.
Emma continued.
“I never asked Dad to choose me.””
“You didn't have to.””
“I never asked him to abandon you.””
“You didn't have to.””
“I never asked him for your money.””
Victoria's lips trembled.
“I know.””
“Then why did you tell him I wasn't his family?””
“I never said that.””
“You told me this wasn't my home.””
Victoria looked away.
Emma nodded slowly.
“That's what you meant.””
“No.””
“That is exactly what you meant.””
David walked to the front door.
He opened it.
Then he turned back.
“Victoria.””
She looked at him.
“I need you to leave.””
Her face crumpled.
“David…”
“Tonight.””
“Where am I supposed to go?””
“I don't know.””
“You're throwing me out?””
David's eyes were wet.
“You told my daughter she wasn't welcome in the home where she grew up.””
Victoria shook her head.
“I made one mistake.””
“No.””
David looked at the folders on the desk.
“You made hundreds of choices.””
Claire quietly picked up her suitcase.
Victoria looked at her sister.
“You're really doing this?””
Claire nodded.
“I should have done it three years ago.””
Victoria whispered, “You're my sister.””
“I know.””
“And you're choosing her?””
Claire looked at Emma.
“No.””
She looked back at Victoria.
“I'm choosing the truth.””
David walked over to Emma.
He held out his hand.
“Come here.””
Emma stepped into his arms.
For a few seconds, she let herself cry against his chest.
His hand moved gently over her hair.
“You're home,” he whispered.
Emma closed her eyes.
“I thought I wasn't.””
“You never stopped being.””
Behind them, Victoria quietly began packing.
Claire stood near the kitchen, crying silently.
Then David's phone rang again.
He answered.
“Hello?””
It was Daniel.
“Mr. Carter, I'm sorry to call again.””
“What happened?””
“We reviewed the original insurance file.””
David's expression changed.
“What about it?””
“There is something you need to see.””
“What?””
“The life insurance policy for Emma's mother.””
David frowned.
“What about it?””
“The beneficiary was changed six weeks before her death.””
David went completely still.
Emma lifted her head.
“Dad?””
Daniel continued.
“And the person who authorized that change…”
David looked at Victoria.
His face drained of color.
“…wasn't Victoria.””
The room went silent.
“Then who was it?”” David asked.
Daniel answered.
David's eyes widened.
He slowly lowered the phone.
Emma whispered, “Dad, who?””
He looked at his daughter.
Then at Claire.
Then at Victoria.
And finally at the black folder still lying open on the desk.
“The beneficiary was changed,” he said, “to someone none of us expected.””
Victoria stopped packing.
Claire's face went white.
Emma felt a chill move down her spine.
May you like
Because David was no longer looking at Victoria.
He was looking at *her*.
