Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Story
Grant drove to Diane’s house.
I followed separately.
Not because I wanted to interfere.
Because after everything that happened, I refused to stand outside another locked door.
Diane opened the door before we knocked.
She looked surprised.
Then annoyed.
“Grant?””
His voice was cold.
“Where’s Paige?””
Diane stepped back.
“She’s packing.””
“Why?””
Diane looked at me.
Then smiled.
Not warmly.
Carefully.
“Because your mother caused a scene.””
My jaw tightened.
Grant looked at her.
“Mom was assaulted.””
Diane rolled her eyes.
“She pushed Paige.””
I stared at her.
“I never touched her.””
“You grabbed her wrist.””
“After she hit me.””
Diane crossed her arms.
“She was emotional.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Because people always had explanations for cruel people.
They were stressed.
They were hurt.
They were emotional.
But somehow the person bleeding was always expected to understand.
Grant walked inside.
“Where is Paige?””
“In the bedroom.””
He headed down the hall.
Then stopped.
On the table near the entrance was a laptop.
A Northstar logo sticker was attached to it.
I noticed.
Grant noticed too.
“Why does she have a company laptop?””
Diane’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“I don’t know.””
That was a lie.
Grant opened the laptop.
A password screen appeared.
Then something unexpected happened.
The computer unlocked.
No password.
The last opened file appeared.
A spreadsheet.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
My name was at the top.
Grant scrolled.
His breathing changed.
“What is it?””
He turned the screen.
It wasn’t spa charges.
It was worse.
A list of transfers.
Small amounts.
Repeated payments.
Over two years.
Money moved from Northstar accounts into personal accounts.
One name appeared again and again.
*Diane Carter.*
Nobody spoke.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“Grant.””
Paige stood there.
Her suitcase beside her.
For once, she didn’t look angry.
She looked terrified.
“You weren’t supposed to see that.””
Grant stared at his wife.
“What did you do?””
Paige shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at me.
And whispered:
“Your mother was never the target.””
My blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
Paige stepped closer.
“Someone wanted you to think it was me.””
Grant looked confused.
“Paige…”
She started crying.
“I made mistakes. I used the card. I shouldn’t have done that.””
Diane immediately interrupted.
“Don’t listen to her.””
Everyone turned.
Diane’s face had changed.
The calm mother.
The elegant grandmother.
Gone.
“You said you would handle this,” Paige whispered.
Grant looked between them.
“Handle what?””
Diane said nothing.
Then Paige whispered the truth.
“She told me to invite your mother.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Paige looked at me.
“I didn’t send that message.””
Grant stepped forward.
“Then who did?””
Paige slowly pointed toward Diane.
May you like
And said:
“She did.””
