Chapter 12 - THE SISTER WHO FINALLY BROKE

Cassandra returned to the estate three days later.

Not as an owner.

Not as a beneficiary.

As someone asking to speak.

Security almost refused her entry.

Elena allowed it.

Cassandra sat in the same living room where she had attacked her.

The broken memory box had been removed.

The marble floor had been cleaned.

The pool outside looked peaceful.

Cassandra stared at the water.

“I hate that pool.”

Gabriel said nothing.

She looked at Elena.

“Victor told me the clause only applied to physical assault.”

Elena’s eyes narrowed.

“So he encouraged you.”

Cassandra swallowed.

“He said destroying your things would make you emotional.”

“He said you would leave.”

“And the heel?”

Cassandra looked ashamed for the first time.

“That wasn’t planned.”

Gabriel’s expression hardened.

“You hurt her because she wouldn’t cry enough for you?”

Cassandra’s eyes filled.

“I was angry.”

“That is not an excuse.”

“I know.”

She whispered it.

The room became quiet.

Then Cassandra opened her handbag.

She removed a flash drive.

“Victor and Mom have been working together.”

Elena looked at Gabriel.

Cassandra continued.

“They wanted Grandfather declared incompetent.”

“He refused.”

“Then they tried to isolate him.”

“Did they kill him?”

Gabriel asked.

“I don’t know.”

Cassandra shook her head.

“But I heard Victor tell Mom they had solved the medication problem.”

Elena felt cold.

“What medication?”

“Grandfather’s heart pills.”

Gabriel stood.

Cassandra began crying.

“I didn’t understand what he meant.”

“Or I didn’t want to.”

Gabriel looked at his sister.

“You knew enough to be afraid.”

“Yes.”

She pushed the flash drive across the table.

“Everything I have is there.”

“Emails.”

“Voice messages.”

“Accounts.”

Elijah arrived thirty minutes later.

The drive contained years of communications.

One audio clip made everyone stop.

Vivienne’s voice.

“If Theodore will not change the trust, then we change Theodore.”

Victor answered.

“Not until the documents are secured.”

The recording ended.

Gabriel looked sick.

Cassandra whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

Elena did not comfort her.

Not yet.

Cassandra had helped create the danger.

But she had also finally chosen to expose it.

Then Elijah opened another folder.

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Inside was a scheduled payment from Victor to a private nurse.

The payment was dated the morning Theodore died.