Chapter 17 - Anna's Last Conversation
The recording was audio only.
Anna's voice came first.
"Stay away from my daughter."
Then Vivian.
"You think this is about your daughter?"
"I know what Daniel is doing."
A pause.
"Then you know more than Ethan."
Anna sounded tired but steady.
"Ethan trusts the wrong people because his father taught him loyalty is a substitute for verification. It isn't."
Ethan closed his eyes.
Vivian laughed softly.
"You won't beat Daniel."
"Maybe not. But I can make sure Lily outlives his plan."
The recording ended with footsteps.
No confession.
No proof Vivian killed Anna.
But Vivian admitted under oath that she had been present when Daniel gave Anna a drink earlier that afternoon.
She claimed she did not know it contained medication.
Daniel denied everything.
Prosecutors charged him with conspiracy, fraud, kidnapping, obstruction, and crimes tied to the guardianship scheme.
Anna's death remained under investigation.
Ethan hated that uncertainty.
He wanted one clean answer.
One villain.
One cause.
Real life refused.
Dr. Keller admitted providing the sedative.
Daniel arranged it.
Vivian knew Anna was being pressured and did nothing.
Whether Daniel intended Anna to die could not yet be proven.
Ethan had to live with a truth more complicated than revenge.
Three weeks later, Vivian accepted a plea.
She admitted child endangerment, coercion, evidence tampering, fraud conspiracy, and participation in the attempt to manipulate Lily's trust.
She would serve prison time.
She would also testify.
Before sentencing, she asked permission to write Lily a letter.
Rebecca said no.
Ethan supported her.
Lily did not owe Vivian closure.
At home, Ethan ordered the chain removed from the foyer.
Marcus asked if he wanted it destroyed.
Ethan looked at it for a long time.
"No. Evidence first. Then I never want to see it again."
Marcus nodded.
As he turned away, Ethan's phone rang.
Detective Brooks.
"We found one more camera file."
"From where?"
"The day you came home early."
Ethan frowned.
"I've seen that footage."
"Not this angle."
May you like
Brooks's voice tightened.
"Ethan, someone else was in the foyer ten minutes before you arrived."
