Chapter 10 The Truth
The screen timestamp showed 13th, midnight.
Dominic nudged the door open and slipped out on his own.
16 min left
Caroline had split the monitor screen into two sections–the hallway on the left, her room on the right.
On it, Caroline was lying in bed, already asleep.
Dominic pressed the call button on his kiddie smartwatch, his voice hushed but eager. “Ms. Adams, I’m in mom’s room now. What’s next? Just accept the money, right? Okay! Once I do this, you will stay with me every day? Awesome!”
Caroline couldn’t hear Michelle’s side, but could tell she was walking this kid through it step by step.
After hanging up, he tiptoed into Caroline’s room, snatching her phone from across the bed.
The camera caught him tapping open that payment app.
And he hit that “accept” button–timestamp matched the transfer records perfectly.
When that five–minute clip ended, the room got dead quiet.
Caleb looked mad confused. “Why did you get my son running
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this scheme?”
16 min left
Michelle buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down as she struggled to find words.
Dominic jumped in like her personal bodyguard. “It was my idea! Ms. Adams just showed me how. Dad, don’t blame her! Mom’s the real snake here. She knew Ms. Adams was sick but still played these videos to mess with her head. She’s the awful one!”
Caleb noticed Michelle starting to hyperventilate. Caleb knew if he pushed any harder, she might lose it completely, and that wouldn’t end well.
His face softened as he made for the door, snagging Caroline’s wrist. “Outside. Now. I’ll figure this out. If she’s really mixed up in this, I’ll make it worth your while.”
To Caroline, it was crystal clear–he was shielding Michelle, trying to make this whole mess disappear.
She yanked her arm free, her tone sharp. “When she made this whole thing public, where was all this ‘let’s handle it privately‘ energy? Now I’m spitting facts and suddenly we gotta keep it quict? What, being sick means she gets a free pass to act crazy? If she’s that ill, why doesn’t she just peace out for good?”
“Shut up!” Caleb went off like a bomb. “She’s like this because of you. How you gonna say that? Caroline, you really that
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cold–blooded?”
16 min left
“Her mental breakdown ain’t my problem. She’s got demons, don’t try putting that on me!” Caroline shot back, ice cold. “Dominic’s been around her for like, a few days? And he’s already lying to cover for her. You really think someone this unstable should be anywhere near your kid?”
Even though Dominic had betrayed her trust, Caroline couldn’t watch him get played. He was her flesh and blood, the future of Martin Group.
Her words lit a fuse in Michelle.
She shoved past Dominic, storming to the door, voice cracking. “You’re right, Caroline. I’m terrible with kids. And guess what? I’ll never have any!”
She kept pouring out her pain. “I was supposed to have it all— marriage, family, the works. But my family was destroyed! And my brother jumped to his death right in front of my face. Now, I’ve lost the love of my life.”
“He’s it for me. I won’t have kids with anyone else, so yeah, I’m shit at this. But I’m trying! Who are you to judge me like that?”
Her face went chalk–white, her breathing ragged. A twisted smile spread across her tear–streaked face. Then, mid–rant, her neck jerked weird, words turning to word salad. “I saw him fall… so high… just splat… blood and chunks everywhere…”
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Caroline leaned back, watching Michelle’s little show with complete indifference. The whole thing was almost funny.
Caleb grabbed Michelle, shooting daggers at Caroline. “You pushed her to this and you’re still laughing? What kind of monster are you?”
15 min left
Before he could finish, Michelle dropped like a sack of potatoes.
“First,” Caroline drawled, “her family tragedy isn’t on me, and her brother’s death? Not my circus. Second, since when does depression look like this? Skip the shrink–she might need a priest.”
“You heartless bitch,” Caleb snarled. “The doctor said she snapped from trauma. I’m warning you. If anything happens to her today, I won’t let it slide.”
He scooped Michelle up and bolted out, barking orders, “Get Caroline to the hospital! Make her wait until Michelle wakes up!”
“Don’t bother. I will be there,” Caroline said, strolling after them, mimicking Michelle’s whiny tone. “Oh, Michelle, passing out won’t make that video vanish. You’ve been playing games. forever, but you still haven’t explained why you coached my kid, have you?”
When Michelle heard that, she trembled slightly, rage building
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Chapter 10 The Truth
inside her.
15 min left
She thought she was slick using Dominic to get Caroline out of the company, but Caroline came strapped with receipts.
Making it worse, Caroline had just gone viral from that livestream, and now everyone was playing detective about her thing with Caleb.
The internet was going wild, connecting dots left and right. Michelle knew if this blew up, getting that divorce would be mission impossible.
And now Caroline had the footage… Michelle’s whole scheme was falling apart faster than a dollar store chair.
Caroline really did follow them to the hospital.
Michelle was too afraid to face questions when she came to, so she played dead like a pro.
With Caleb breathing down their necks, these doctors didn’t dare call her bluff. They ran every test in the book till she was actually exhausted.
It was dark out before they moved her to a regular room.
Caroline crossed her arms, eyeing Michelle’s fake sleeping act.
Her voice dripped with fake concern. “Oh my, this must’ve been one hell of a shock. She’s been lights out forever.”
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15 min left
Caleb shot her a death glare. “You still running your mouth?”
“What? I’m just worried, you know? Being knocked out this long? Could be brain damage.” Caroline said flatly. “Maybe some shock therapy would help. I hear it does wonders for depression. Might be just what she needs.”
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