Chapter 8 - THE SISTER WHO FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTHI called Chloe.
She answered immediately.
“Emma?”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Silence.
“You found the offshore account.”
“Yes.”
“You could have saved yourself.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you?”
She started crying.
“Because I was already ashamed.”
I sat down.
She continued.
“I thought Julian loved me.”
“I know.”
“But then I saw what he was doing.”
She explained how she had discovered the account.
She had found it while processing vendor paperwork.
She initially ignored it.
Then she saw the amount.
She knew something was wrong.
So she began copying emails.
Documents.
Bank references.
Everything.
“Why did you give it to me?”
“Because I finally realized what I'd done.”
I closed my eyes.
“You betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“But you also stopped him.”
“I don't expect that to erase anything.”
“It doesn't.”
“I know.”
We sat in silence.
Then I said:
“I'm not ready to call you my sister again.”
She cried.
“I understand.”
“But…”
She waited.
“I don't hate you.”
She covered her mouth.
“Thank you.”
“I don't know what happens next.”
“Neither do I.”
“But maybe someday.”
“Yes.”
We ended the call.
For the first time in years, I felt something strange.
Not forgiveness.
May you like
Something smaller.
Possibility.
