Chapter 21 - The Recording
I did not shout.
That mattered.
Miriam had advised me to remain calm.
The house security system was recording the conversation legally under the circumstances our attorneys had reviewed.
Vanessa began with denial.
Then justification.
Then blame.
“You were never home.”
“You chose the company over us.”
“You left me to raise Maya.”
“You made Nolan desperate.”
“You controlled all the money.”
Finally she said:
“I was trying to protect myself.”
“By declaring me incompetent?”
“You had a heart condition.”
“I had a treatable cardiac issue.”
“It could return.”
“So could the flu. Should you own the company if I sneeze?”
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“I think Maya on that bathroom floor is the least funny thing I have ever seen.”
Vanessa looked away.
“She was helping.”
“She was terrified.”
“She’s dramatic.”
“Stop calling a child dramatic because she remembers what you did.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Then I asked:
“Why the three o’clock deadline?”
Her face changed.
May you like
That was the moment she realized I knew about the home evaluator too.
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