Lily Pointed at the Kitchen Camera While Her Mother Explained — Then Michael Watched What Happened Before He Came Home
Chapter 6 — The House Michael Thought Was Sold
Michael returned to Evelyn’s letter.
She wrote about the old Carter property.
The same property that had triggered their original fight.
Michael always believed Evelyn sold it shortly after his father’s death.
She hadn’t.
She still owned it.
And according to the documents inside the envelope, half of it legally belonged to Michael.
His father had placed Michael’s name into a trust before he died.
Michael stared at the paperwork.
“Why didn’t I know this?”
Claire looked sick.
“I knew.”
Michael slowly turned toward her.
“How?”
Evelyn had given Claire copies during one of their secret meetings.
She asked her to show Michael.
Claire never did.
“Why?”
“Because I thought if you knew the property was still there, you’d contact her.”
Michael stood abruptly.
“Of course I would have contacted her.”
Lily flinched.
Michael immediately lowered his voice.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
He turned back to Claire.
“How long have you known?”
“Almost seven years.”
Michael could barely process it.
Seven years.
Seven birthdays.
Seven Christmases.
Seven years his daughter had grown up without knowing her grandmother.
Then Lily touched his hand.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
She pointed toward the camera again.
“There’s more.”
Michael remembered.
He had stopped the recording before reaching the moment he originally walked into the kitchen.
He pressed play again.
