Chapter 5
The police arrived while Eleanor was still trying to regain control.
She smiled at the first officer.
“My name is Eleanor Vance. I’m sure Chief Wilkes can explain this misunderstanding.”
The officer did not smile back.
“Ma’am, please step aside.”
Her face tightened.
That was the first sign the world had shifted.
The second came when the investigator handed over the footage.
Bedroom.
Office.
Serena taking the laptop.
Julian shoving Marcus.
Then Daniel handed over the documents.
Forgery.
Fraud.
Attempted coercion.
The officers separated everyone.
Eleanor kept saying the same thing.
“This is a private family matter.”
No one listened.
Julian was not arrested that night.
Not yet.
White collar criminals rarely feel handcuffs at the first knock.
But his laptop was seized.
Serena gave a statement.
And I changed the locks before sunrise.
Julian stood on the porch in yesterday’s suit, looking at me like I had betrayed him.
“You’re really doing this?”
I leaned against the doorframe.
“You brought another woman into our bed during dinner.”
“That wasn’t the worst thing I did.”
At least he knew.
He stepped closer.
“We can fix this, Khloe.”
“No.”
“My mother pushed too hard. I panicked.”
“You planned.”
He lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand who is involved.”
That made me still.
“Who?”
He glanced at the street.
Then back at me.
“If I go down, people worse than my mother come for you.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a warning.”
“For once, I believe you.”
His mouth softened.
“Then let me in.”
I shut the door.
He pounded once.
“Khloe!”
I slid the deadbolt.
My hands shook only after he left.
Marcus made coffee while I sat on the kitchen floor.
The dining room still smelled like roast beef and humiliation.
My phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
You played the wrong video.
Below it was a photo.
Me.
May you like
Asleep in my bedroom.
Taken from inside the house.
