Chapter 8: The Video Nobody Was Supposed to See
Nobody touched the laptop.
The file sat there.
Waiting.
Like a door nobody wanted to open.
My father stared at the screen.
“Mia.””
She looked at him.
“I didn’t put that there.””
“I know.””
His voice was quiet.
“Because I don’t think you could have.””
The three of us stood around the table.
A strange feeling filled the room.
Like we weren’t just discovering secrets.
We were uncovering something that had been buried intentionally.
I reached toward the laptop.
My father grabbed my hand.
“Emma.””
“I need to know.””
He looked at me.
And then he let go.
I clicked the file.
The screen went black.
Then a video started.
At first, it was just my bedroom.
My bedroom from last night.
The camera angle was hidden.
High in the corner.
My heart dropped.
Someone had been watching me.
The video showed my dress hanging carefully on the closet door.
Perfect.
Untouched.
Then the door opened.
Mia walked in.
I looked at her.
She looked away.
“I know,” she whispered.
“I know what it looks like.””
The video continued.
Mia stood in my room for several minutes.
She didn’t touch the dress.
She just stared.
Then Rachel entered.
My entire body went tense.
Even though I knew she was involved, seeing it happen was different.
Rachel walked straight to the dress.
“You’re sure?””
Mia nodded.
“I don’t know.””
Rachel laughed softly.
“That’s your problem.””
The sound of her voice made my skin crawl.
“You always hesitate.””
Mia looked uncomfortable.
“Maybe we should stop.””
Rachel turned toward her.
“After everything I’ve done for you?””
The room went silent.
Mia looked down.
“I didn’t ask you to.””
Rachel stepped closer.
“You wanted people to notice you.””
My hands curled into fists.
“You wanted your father to stop comparing you.””
Mia’s face changed.
“I never said that.””
“You didn’t have to.””
Rachel touched the dress.
“You hate that Emma gets praised for everything.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
Rachel smiled.
“You’re just too scared to admit it.””
Mia looked at the dress.
Then whispered:
“What if we get caught?””
Rachel laughed.
“We won’t.””
The video continued.
Then came the moment.
The moment my entire world changed.
Rachel handed Mia the scissors.
Not suggested.
Not hinted.
Handed.
Mia took them.
But she hesitated.
“I can’t.””
Rachel’s face turned cold.
“Then I will.””
She reached for the scissors.
Mia stopped her.
“No.””
And then she cut the dress.
One piece.
Then another.
My chest hurt.
Even knowing it happened.
Even seeing the truth.
It still hurt.
Because I saw something I didn’t expect.
Mia was crying.
Quietly.
While destroying it.
When the video ended, nobody spoke.
Then my father stood.
He looked at Mia.
“You were afraid of her.””
Mia nodded.
“I was.””
“Why?””
She wiped her face.
“Because Rachel always knew how to make me feel like I owed her.””
My father sat down.
“Mia.””
She looked at him.
“How long?””
She hesitated.
“Years.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“She always told me things.””
“What things?””
Mia looked at me.
“That Dad loved you more.””
“That you were the reason he felt guilty.””
“That everyone would choose you.””
I stared at her.
“And you believed her?””
She looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
A painful silence followed.
Then she whispered:
“I hated you because she taught me to.””
That sentence hurt.
But somehow, it also explained everything.
Mia wasn’t innocent.
She had made choices.
She had hurt me.
But someone had spent years feeding that anger.
My father looked at me.
“Emma.””
I knew what he was asking.
Could I forgive her?
I didn’t know.
Not yet.
“I don’t know what I feel.””
Mia nodded.
“I understand.””
For once, she didn’t demand forgiveness.
She didn’t make excuses.
She just accepted my anger.
Then my father’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then he stood.
“What do you mean she filed a claim?””
My heart sank.
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“Rachel.””
The room went cold.
“She’s saying you stole from her.””
“What?””
My father put the call on speaker.
A lawyer’s voice came through.
“Mr. Carter, Rachel Collins has filed legal documents claiming ownership over certain family assets.””
My father looked stunned.
“She can’t.””
The lawyer paused.
“There’s more.””
“What?””
“She’s also submitted evidence suggesting your late wife was involved in financial misconduct before her death.””
I felt like the air disappeared.
My mother.
Even after all these years.
Rachel was still trying to destroy her.
My father gripped the phone.
“That’s a lie.””
The lawyer’s voice became quieter.
“I agree, but there is one problem.””
“What?””
“The documents appear authentic.””
Nobody moved.
Because that meant only one thing.
Someone had forged evidence.
And whoever did it…
Had access to my father’s private records.
May you like
Then the lawyer said the sentence that changed everything.
“Mr. Carter, the documents were signed with your wife’s name.””
