Chapter 5: The Man Who Knew Too Much

Aaron's brow twitched as he flipped through my case file again.

You've got to be kidding me, ma'am. You're the one who had all three of them wrapped around your finger, aren't you? You conned them so thoroughly you didn't even leave them with a dime.

And you've admitted yourself that they treated you exceptionally well. Even the housekeeper, along with the doctors and nurses who cared for you, can confirm it.

I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly.

The livestream chat continued exploding with disbelief. Thousands of people were watching Aaron question me, waiting for the dramatic confession they had convinced themselves I was hiding.

Aaron closed the file.

Then tell me something. If your family really treated you that well, why would you risk destroying everything?

I looked directly into his eyes.

Because kindness can be the most dangerous thing in the world when you know you don't deserve it.

For the first time, Aaron's expression changed.

He didn't interrupt me.

Three months ago, when I walked out of the psychiatric hospital, I didn't recognize myself anymore. I remembered the hospital walls, the locked doors, the medication, and the endless nights when I couldn't tell whether the voices in my head were memories or nightmares.

Then my brother came for me.

Daniel stood beside him holding that ridiculous carrot cake he'd waited hours to buy. My sister-in-law hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

They never asked me to explain what had happened to me.

They never asked whether I had embarrassed the family.

They simply brought me home.

I stared at my hands.

That should have made me happy.

Instead, I was terrified.

Because I remembered another version of my life.

In that life, I had trusted them completely. I believed my brother would protect me forever. I believed my sister-in-law would always treat me like her daughter. I believed Daniel's smile was genuine.

And then everything changed.

My brother's business collapsed overnight.

My sister-in-law disappeared.

Daniel vanished beneath a mountain of debt.

And I was left alone in a house that suddenly felt enormous.

Someone had manipulated my family from the shadows.

Someone had convinced my brother to sign documents he shouldn't have signed, pushed Daniel toward dangerous loans, and used my sister-in-law's vulnerability against her.

By the time I understood what had happened, it was too late.

I died believing my own family had abandoned me.

Aaron leaned forward.

You're saying you remember a previous life?

I laughed softly.

Do you think I'd tell that to anyone if I wanted them to believe I was sane?

He stared at me for several seconds.

Then he asked, What exactly happened in that life?

I didn't answer immediately.

Instead, I looked toward the one-way mirror.

There were people standing behind it. Officers. Investigators. Maybe reporters waiting for a statement.

And possibly someone else.

Someone who had been watching me from the moment I was discharged.

I lowered my voice.

My family wasn't ruined because they were foolish. They were ruined because someone carefully arranged every step.

Aaron's fingers stopped moving.

Who?

I shook my head.

I don't know yet.

Then why did you destroy them first?

Because I needed to find out who would come after me.

Aaron's eyes hardened.

You used your family as bait?

I swallowed.

Yes.

The answer sounded cruel even to me.

But there was something I hadn't told anyone.

The day my brother transferred the final property into my name, I noticed something strange on the document.

A small notation had been added to the transfer agreement.

It was barely visible, hidden beneath a layer of legal text.

I had seen that notation before.

In my previous life, it had appeared on the contract that transferred my brother's company to the investment group that eventually destroyed him.

That meant the person behind everything had already reached my brother again.

And this time, I was watching.

Aaron stood up and walked to the window.

Why didn't you tell your brother?

Because he wouldn't have believed me.

I smiled bitterly.

He loves me too much. If I had told him that I believed someone was targeting our family, he would have protected me first. He would have moved all the assets, changed the security system, and hidden me somewhere safe.

And then whoever was behind it would have disappeared.

Aaron turned around.

So you deliberately let your brother believe you were betraying him.

Yes.

You made Daniel think you were helping him get into college.

Yes.

You allowed your sister-in-law to believe you were arranging an investment opportunity.

Yes.

And you destroyed your brother's company.

I shook my head.

No. I made it look like I destroyed it.

Silence filled the room.

Aaron slowly returned to his chair.

Explain.

I leaned forward and whispered, The money I took never disappeared.

His eyes narrowed.

Every cent is still there.

Aaron stared at me.

Then where is it?

I smiled.

In an account that none of them know exists.

He immediately reached for his phone.

Before he could make a call, I stopped him.

Don't.

Why?

Because the moment you trace that account, they'll know I told you.

Who are you talking about?

I looked straight into his eyes.

The person who has been waiting for me to make one mistake.

Aaron's expression became serious.

And what happens if you don't make one?

I leaned back against the chair.

Then they'll have to come for me themselves.

For the first time since the interrogation began, Aaron didn't look at me like a criminal.

He looked at me like a witness.

Then the lights in the interrogation room suddenly flickered.

My phone, which had been sealed in an evidence bag across the room, began vibrating.

Once.

Twice.

Then continuously.

An officer rushed over and checked the screen.

His face went pale.

Detective Ford...

Aaron turned toward him.

What is it?

The officer swallowed hard.

Someone just transferred a message to the phone.

Aaron walked over and looked at the screen.

There was only one sentence.

Stop digging, Claire, or your brother won't be the only one who dies.