Chapter 7: The Sister Who Finally Confessed
I listened to Lauren’s voicemail eleven times.
Not because I believed her.
Because I wanted to know if I did.
That was the part I hated most.
Despite everything, despite the hospital, despite the burns on my skin, some small piece of me still searched for the sister I remembered.
The girl who held my hand during thunderstorms.
The girl who cried when I got hurt.
The girl who had somehow disappeared.
Detective Reed arranged a meeting.
Not at the police station.
At my parents’ house.
He wanted the conversation recorded.
I agreed.
Lauren arrived twenty minutes late.
That alone shocked me.
Lauren had always been early.
Always perfect.
Always prepared.
But when she stepped through the door, she looked nothing like the woman from the wedding photos.
Her hair was messy.
Her eyes were swollen.
She looked afraid.
Mom immediately stood.
“Lauren.””
My sister looked at me.
Not Mom.
Not Dad.
Me.
“I’m sorry.””
The words surprised everyone.
I crossed my arms.
“For what part?””
Her face fell.
“All of it.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
Detective Reed sat nearby.
“Lauren, we need honesty today.””
She nodded.
“I’ll tell you everything.””
I almost laughed.
Everything.
A word that came too late.
She sat across from me.
“Michael planned it.””
I stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because it’s true.””
I shook my head.
“You held the glass.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
She swallowed.
“Michael told me Dad was going to humiliate me at the wedding.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He said Dad planned to announce the will change during the toast.””
I looked at Dad.
He shook his head.
“I never planned that.””
Lauren continued.
“He told me Dad wanted everyone to know I wasn’t getting anything.””
Her voice broke.
“I was angry.””
There it was.
The truth.
Not innocence.
Anger.
“I hated feeling like Dad thought I was a failure.””
Nobody spoke.
“He told me we could teach him a lesson.””
My stomach turned.
“Teach him a lesson?””
She nodded.
“He said we would make him think someone tried to poison him.””
Detective Reed leaned forward.
“And the chemical?””
Lauren looked away.
“Michael bought it.””
“Did you know what it was?””
“No.””
I watched her carefully.
“Then why did you throw it?””
Her face collapsed.
“Because I was angry at you.””
The honesty hurt.
“I thought you were enjoying it.””
“What?””
“The toast.””
I stared.
“Lauren…”
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You burned me because Dad thanked me?””
She started crying.
“I know how horrible that sounds.””
“It is horrible.””
“I know.””
For once, she didn’t argue.
She didn’t defend herself.
She just sat there.
Broken.
Detective Reed asked:
“When did you realize something was wrong?””
Lauren wiped her face.
“When Claire started screaming.””
The room went silent.
“I thought she was pretending.””
My chest tightened.
“Pretending?””
“Yes.””
She looked at me.
“Because that’s what Michael told me.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“He always said you exaggerated everything.””
I felt a cold wave move through me.
“He told me you wanted attention.””
Every insult.
Every accusation.
Every time Lauren called me dramatic.
Maybe some of it had never been hers.
Detective Reed looked serious.
“Did Michael manipulate you?””
Lauren nodded.
“I think so.””
“Think?””
She looked at him.
“I wanted to believe him.””
That was the hardest part.
She wasn’t saying she was innocent.
She was saying she was weak.
And weakness could still destroy someone.
After Lauren left, Dad sat beside me.
“You okay?””
I looked at him.
“No.””
He nodded.
“Me neither.””
The next day, Detective Reed called.
“Claire, we searched Michael’s computer.””
“And?””
“We found a document.””
“What kind of document?””
“A plan.””
My stomach tightened.
“What was planned?””
A pause.
Then:
“The wedding wasn’t the only target.””
I stood.
“What does that mean?””
“Michael had been researching your father’s death benefits.””
The room spun.
“He wanted him dead?””
“We’re investigating.””
I gripped the phone.
“And Lauren?””
Another pause.
“She was never the main person he was controlling.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who was?””
May you like
Detective Reed answered quietly.
“You.””
