Chapter 2: The Truth Behind The Money
Ryan stood in my doorway with his phone still pressed against his ear.
For the first time in years, my brother looked afraid.
Not annoyed.
Not defensive.
Afraid.
"Brianna knows you found out," he repeated.
I leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Found out what?""
Ryan looked away.
That tiny movement told me everything.
Because Ryan had always been terrible at lying to me.
He could defend Brianna. He could twist situations. He could convince himself he was doing the right thing.
But when the truth cornered him, he looked exactly like the little boy who used to hide broken toys under his bed.
"What did she say?"" I asked.
Ryan ended the call.
"She wants me to come home.""
I almost laughed.
"Of course she does.""
"Emily.""
"No, seriously. That’s impressive.""
His eyebrows pulled together.
"What is?""
"Yesterday, she slapped me in front of our entire family, and today the emergency is that she’s worried about what I know?""
Ryan’s face hardened.
"You don't understand the situation.""
I looked at the folder.
"I understand it perfectly.""
He stepped farther into my apartment.
"Give me those documents.""
"No.""
"Emily.""
"No.""
His voice became sharper.
"Those things are private.""
I stared at him.
"My bank account was private too. Until you and your wife emptied it.""
Ryan froze.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then he shook his head.
"That’s not what happened.""
"Really?""
"No.""
He pointed at the folder.
"You’re making assumptions.""
I opened it and pulled out the first document.
"Three years ago, I transferred forty thousand dollars to you.""
Ryan looked away.
"You said it was for the business.""
"It was.""
"You said you needed help because the bank rejected your loan.""
"We did.""
"You said you would pay me back.""
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
"Emily...""
"No.""
My voice came out stronger than I expected.
"You don't get to say my name like that anymore. Not when you only use it when you want me to stop asking questions.""
He stared at me.
The room felt smaller.
"I helped you," I continued.
"I didn't hesitate. I didn't ask for interest. I didn't ask for anything except for my brother to keep his word.""
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
"We had problems.""
"Everyone has problems.""
"You don't know what was happening.""
"Then tell me.""
Silence.
A real silence.
Not the uncomfortable silence from the barbecue.
This one was heavier.
Because Ryan knew the answer.
He knew the truth was sitting between us.
"You should have come to me," he finally said.
I blinked.
"What?""
"You should have asked me directly instead of digging around.""
A cold feeling moved through my chest.
"You’re angry that I found proof.""
"I'm angry that you don't trust me.""
I smiled sadly.
"Ryan, trust doesn't disappear because someone asks questions.""
I placed the document back on the table.
"Trust disappears when someone takes advantage of it.""
His phone buzzed again.
He looked down.
Another message from Brianna.
This time, he didn't answer.
I noticed.
And so did he.
Because even he understood what that meant.
"Why did she tell you she knew?"" I asked.
Ryan didn’t respond.
"Ryan.""
He sighed.
"Because she saw your email.""
I frowned.
"What email?""
"The one you sent to the accountant.""
My stomach tightened.
I had contacted the accountant two weeks earlier after discovering irregular transfers connected to the business.
I wanted answers before I accused anyone.
I wanted facts.
Not assumptions.
"She accessed my email?""
Ryan said nothing.
That was answer enough.
I walked toward the window.
The neighborhood outside looked normal.
A woman walking her dog.
A child riding a bicycle.
Someone watering flowers.
It was strange how the world continued when your own life was falling apart.
"How long?"" I asked.
Ryan looked confused.
"How long what?""
"How long has she been controlling everything?""
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But I saw it.
"You think she controls me?""
"I think you stopped being my brother somewhere along the way.""
That hurt him.
I knew it did.
But it was the truth.
Ryan sat down slowly.
For the first time since he entered my apartment, he looked exhausted.
"I didn't know.""
The words were quiet.
I turned around.
"What?""
"I didn't know everything.""
I studied his face.
"That’s supposed to make me feel better?""
"No.""
He looked down.
"I just...""
He stopped.
Then he ran a hand through his hair.
"I thought she was stressed. I thought she was handling things.""
"And you never checked?""
"I trusted her.""
I laughed softly.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"You trusted your wife with my money more than you trusted your own sister.""
Ryan flinched.
A few seconds passed.
Then he whispered, "How much do you know?""
I walked back to the table.
"Enough to know the business wasn't failing.""
Ryan looked up.
"What?""
"The business was making money.""
His expression changed.
"Emily...""
"I found the records.""
I opened another section of the folder.
"The online sales. The deposits. The transfers.""
I placed the papers in front of him.
"She told everyone she was struggling.""
Ryan picked up the documents.
His eyes moved quickly across the pages.
"These could mean anything.""
"No.""
I pointed at the highlighted lines.
"These are payments from customers.""
Another page.
"These are transfers to a personal account.""
Another.
"These are luxury purchases made the same week you told Mom you couldn't afford your mortgage.""
Ryan stopped reading.
The color drained from his face.
"I didn't know about this.""
I believed him.
That was the worst part.
Because some small, stupid piece of me still wanted to believe my brother wasn't the villain.
Just someone who had been too weak to stop one.
"When did you notice something was wrong?"" I asked.
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
Then he whispered:
"Six months ago.""
I stared at him.
"Six months?""
He looked ashamed.
"I saw some payments.""
"And?""
"I asked her.""
"What did she say?""
Ryan looked away.
"She said I was accusing her.""
I nodded slowly.
"And you believed her.""
He didn't respond.
Because he did.
The silence answered for him.
I sat across from him.
"When Brianna slapped me yesterday, you believed her too.""
Ryan closed his eyes.
"Emily...""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"I need you to understand something.""
He opened his eyes.
"I could forgive the money.""
That surprised him.
"I could forgive being lied to.""
My voice became quieter.
"I could even forgive you choosing her side.""
Ryan looked at me.
"But I will never forget watching you see someone hurt me and deciding I was the problem.""
His face broke for a second.
A tiny crack.
The brother I remembered appeared.
Then disappeared.
"I was wrong," he said.
The words were barely audible.
I looked at him.
For years, I had wanted to hear those words.
But now that they were finally spoken, they felt different.
Too late.
"Where is the money?"" I asked.
Ryan looked at the floor.
"I don't know.""
"Ryan.""
"I don't know.""
His voice became desperate.
"Emily, I swear. I thought the business was doing well. I thought everything was fine.""
I watched him carefully.
"Then find out.""
He nodded.
"I will.""
Before he could stand, his phone rang again.
This time, he answered immediately.
"Hello?""
I watched his face.
At first, confusion.
Then disbelief.
Then panic.
"What do you mean she left?""
My heart started beating faster.
Ryan stood up.
"Brianna, where are you?""
A pause.
His expression changed.
"Wait.""
Another pause.
Then he looked at me.
Not at the folder.
Not at the documents.
At me.
"She took everything.""
I stood slowly.
"What do you mean everything?""
Ryan swallowed.
"Her jewelry.""
A pause.
"Her passport.""
Another pause.
"And the business accounts.""
The room went completely silent.
Then Ryan said the one sentence that made my blood run cold.
"Emily... she didn't run because she was scared.""
He looked toward the door.
"She ran because she knew we were about to find something.""
My phone suddenly buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
I opened it.
And my hands went cold.
Because the message wasn't from Brianna.
May you like
It was from someone who had been watching us the entire time.
*"You think Brianna is the problem? You have no idea what your brother helped hide.""*
