Chapter 3 - The Truth I Had Been HidingThe next morning, my sister Natalie arrived at the hospital.
The moment she saw me, she hugged me carefully.
Then she cried.
“I knew something was wrong.”
I looked away.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I was embarrassed.”
“Why?”
“Because I kept defending him.”
Natalie sat beside me.
“You weren't stupid.”
“I feel stupid.”
“You were manipulated.”
I stared at the window.
For years, I had explained away things that should never have needed explaining.
Corey's anger.
Lorraine's control.
The financial restrictions.
The constant criticism.
The way Corey would apologize after every argument and promise he would change.
Then he would do it again.
And again.
Natalie reached into her purse.
“I brought you something.”
She handed me a folder.
“What is this?”
“Copies.”
I opened it.
Bank statements.
Emails.
Messages.
Photos.
I looked at her.
“Where did you get these?”
“From your cloud account.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because three months ago, you asked me to help organize your finances.”
I remembered.
I had forgotten.
Natalie pointed to several transfers.
“Look.”
Money had been leaving our joint account.
Thousands of dollars.
I frowned.
“Where did it go?”
“Lorraine's account.”
I stared.
“How long?”
“Two years.”
My hands went cold.
Corey hadn't just been controlling me emotionally.
He had been draining our finances.
Then Natalie showed me another document.
A life insurance policy.
My name was listed.
The beneficiary was Corey.
I couldn't breathe.
“Rebecca?”
I looked at her.
“I don't know my husband anymore.”
May you like
Natalie squeezed my hand.
“Maybe you finally know him.”
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