Chapter 10 - The Lie Between Sisters

Lauren came to Adeline’s house carrying no luggage.

She looked exhausted.

For several seconds, neither sister spoke.

Then Lauren said, “I’m sorry.”

Adeline stepped aside.

“Come in.”

The twins ran from the living room.

“Aunt Lauren!”

Lauren dropped to her knees and hugged them.

Her face crumpled.

“I missed you two.”

Noah asked, “Did Grandma say we weren’t family?”

Adeline closed her eyes.

Lauren answered before she could intervene.

“She said something cruel.”

“Why?”

“Because adults sometimes say things when they want control.”

Ethan frowned.

“That’s dumb.”

Lauren laughed through tears.

“Yes. It is.”

After the boys went upstairs, the sisters sat at the kitchen table.

Adeline placed their father’s letter between them.

Lauren read it again.

“He loved me.”

“Of course he did.”

“Mom said he thought I was irresponsible.”

“He sometimes thought you were irresponsible.”

Lauren looked offended.

Adeline almost smiled.

“So did I.”

“That doesn’t help.”

“It’s also not the same as not loving you.”

Lauren traced the edge of the paper.

“She told me you pushed Dad to change his will.”

“I didn’t.”

“I believe you.”

The words landed softly.

Adeline did not realize how badly she needed them.

Lauren continued.

“She said you wanted everything because you had the twins and I didn’t.”

“That makes no sense.”

“I know.”

“Did you ever ask me?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I was angry.”

Adeline leaned back.

“So was I.”

Lauren looked up.

“At me?”

“At everyone. Dad for making me responsible. You for letting me be responsible. Constance for turning every family event into a loyalty test.”

Lauren winced.

“I did let you fix things.”

“Yes.”

“You also liked fixing things.”

Adeline opened her mouth.

Then stopped.

Lauren gave a sad smile.

“See?”

Adeline laughed despite herself.

“Fine.”

For a moment they were sisters again, not opposing witnesses in a family case.

Then Lauren reached into her purse.

“I brought something.”

She placed a small black notebook on the table.

Adeline stiffened.

“Where did you get that?”

“Mom’s hotel room.”

“You stole it?”

“She left it in my bag by accident.”

“That is not the same as permission to read it.”

“I know. I read it anyway.”

Adeline stared.

“Lauren.”

“You’re going to want to see page twenty-three.”

Adeline opened the notebook.

It was not the same one police had recovered.

This one contained recent notes.

Dates.

Calls.

Amounts.

On page twenty-three, one line was underlined twice:

If A refuses transfer, use L as beneficiary petitioner. G has signature. R can be blamed.

Adeline read it again.

“Graham has your signature.”

“Yes.”

“And R means Richard.”

“I think so.”

“So Mom planned to make you challenge the trust.”

Lauren’s voice shook.

“I never agreed to that.”

“She thought she could make you.”

“I hate that you believe me only because you found proof.”

Adeline looked up.

“That is not fair.”

Lauren’s eyes filled.

“It feels fair.”

Adeline closed the notebook.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to say you know I’m not like her.”

“I don’t know what you knew.”

“I told you.”

“And you lied first.”

“Because I was scared.”

“So was I.”

Lauren stood.

“Then maybe we’re both terrible at being sisters.”

Adeline stood too.

“Maybe.”

Lauren wiped her face.

“I should go.”

“Where?”

“Hotel.”

“No.”

Lauren stared.

Adeline sighed.

“You can stay here.”

“You just said you don’t trust me.”

“I said I don’t know everything you knew. Those are not the same thing.”

Lauren looked toward the stairs.

“Mom will hate me.”

“She already used your signature.”

“I know.”

“Stay.”

Lauren slowly sat back down.

Later that night, Vance arrived to collect the notebook.

He photographed it before placing it into an evidence bag.

“This is useful.”

Lauren looked sick.

“Can she go to prison?”

Vance did not soften the truth.

“If prosecutors prove fraud, forgery, theft, or conspiracy, criminal consequences are possible.”

Lauren cried quietly.

Adeline reached for her hand.

Lauren let her.

The next morning, Constance appeared at the front door.

No warning.

No lawyer.

She rang the bell until Adeline answered through the camera.

“Leave.”

“I want my daughter.”

Lauren stood behind Adeline.

Constance saw her through the glass.

“Lauren.”

Lauren did not move.

“Come outside.”

“No.”

Constance’s face changed.

“You don’t understand what she’s doing.”

Lauren’s voice shook.

“She showed me Dad’s letter.”

“That letter was written when he was confused.”

“Stop.”

“He was sick.”

“Stop.”

“Adeline manipulated him.”

Lauren stepped closer to the door.

“Mom, did you forge my signature?”

Constance froze.

Adeline saw it.

So did Lauren.

“Answer me.”

Constance recovered.

“I was protecting you.”

“Did you forge it?”

“I did what your father would have wanted.”

Lauren began crying.

“That is not an answer.”

Constance’s voice became sharp.

“Open this door.”

“No.”

“You are my daughter.”

Lauren wiped her tears.

“And she is my sister.”

Constance stared at them through the glass.

For years she had built power by making those identities compete.

Now, for the first time, Lauren refused the choice.

Constance stepped back.

“You will regret this.”

Adeline spoke through the intercom.

“That sounded like a threat.”

Constance looked directly into the camera.

Then she smiled.

“No, sweetheart.”

Her voice became calm.

“It was a prediction.”

She walked away.

Ten minutes later, Detective Ruiz called.

“Do not let her inside.”

“We didn’t.”

“Good.”

“What happened?”

“Graham Pike gave a full statement this morning.”

Adeline held her breath.

Ruiz continued.

“He says Constance was not acting alone.”

“Richard?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

Ruiz answered.

“Your father’s former estate administrator.”

Adeline went cold.

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“Who?”

“Alistair Vance.”