Chapter 5 - The Door Closes
Julian exploded.
“You called security on your own family?”
Sarah remained seated.
“No.”
“I called security on two people who tried to steal my property.”
Claire stood frozen near the table.
Noah moved beside his mother.
Victoria grabbed her coat.
“This family is insane.”
Sarah watched her.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
Victoria stopped.
Julian pointed at Sarah.
“You think you can embarrass me in front of everybody and walk away?”
Sarah’s eyes hardened.
“You shaved part of my head while trying to force me to sign away my home.”
Julian lowered his voice.
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
That sentence caught Sarah’s attention.
Not what you’re interfering with.
Not what you’re doing.
Something larger existed behind the house transfer.
The security officers escorted Victoria toward the door.
Julian refused to move.
“This is my wife’s home too.”
Claire finally spoke.
“No.”
Julian turned.
She was crying.
But her voice was steady.
“This is my mother’s house.”
“Claire.”
“And I want you to leave.”
Julian stared at her as if she had slapped him.
Noah looked at the floor.
Julian pointed at his son.
“You’re coming with me.”
Noah didn’t move.
“No.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“I’m your father.”
“You didn’t act like it tonight.”
Julian stepped toward him.
David immediately blocked his path.
“That’s enough.”
Julian looked around the room.
Every person who had once laughed at his jokes now avoided his eyes.
He grabbed his coat.
Before leaving, he leaned close to Sarah.
“This company collapses without me.”
Sarah whispered back.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have stolen from it.”
Julian froze.
Sarah had guessed.
But his reaction answered the question.
His eyes widened for half a second.
Then he recovered.
“What are you talking about?”
Sarah smiled faintly.
“Good night, Julian.”
The front door closed behind him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Claire whispered.
“Mom.”
Sarah turned.
“How much do you know?”
“Not enough.”
Claire wiped her face.
“What did he mean about the company collapsing?”
Sarah looked toward Thomas’s empty chair.
Before his death, her husband had left her instructions.
Not detailed instructions.
A single sealed envelope.
OPEN ONLY IF JULIAN EVER ASKS YOU TO USE THE HOUSE AS COLLATERAL.
Sarah had kept it inside the study safe for three years.
She suddenly knew Christmas night was the moment Thomas had been preparing her for.
Sarah rose.
“Come with me.”
She led Claire and Noah into the study.
Sarah opened the safe.
The envelope was still there.
Her hands trembled as she broke the seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter from her dead husband.
Sarah unfolded it.
May you like
The first line made her stop breathing.
Sarah, if you’re reading this, Julian finally did exactly what I was afraid he would do.
