Chapter 3: The Video Nobody Could Erase
The next morning, Kayla arrived at the hospital carrying a paper bag and a frightened expression.
She was seventeen, tall, and usually full of jokes.
Today, she looked as though she hadn't slept.
Marcus opened the door.
“Hey, Kayla.””
“Is Claire okay?””
“She and the baby are being monitored. Come in.””
She hurried toward my bed.
“Claire!””
I reached for her hand.
“I'm okay, sweetheart.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I'm so sorry I didn't stop Rachel.””
“You were recording. You did more than anyone else.””
Kayla shook her head.
“I should have called for help sooner.””
Marcus pulled a chair beside us.
“Do you still have the video?””
She nodded.
“Three copies. One on my phone, one on my laptop, and one in cloud storage.””
“Good,” Marcus said.
“Don't send it to anyone who isn't authorized to receive it. Keep the original untouched.””
Kayla pulled out her phone.
“There's something else.””
She opened a video.
It was recorded several minutes before the attack.
The camera showed the backyard.
My mother was standing near the kitchen entrance with Rachel.
Their voices were faint, but audible.
Rachel said, “She thinks she's won.””
My mother sighed.
“Rachel, not today. There are too many people here.””
“That's exactly why today is perfect.””
“Just don't do anything stupid.””
Rachel laughed.
“Relax. Claire always gets what she wants. Maybe it's time she learned what it feels like to lose something.””
Kayla paused the recording.
My mouth went dry.
“Play the rest.””
She did.
My mother's voice became clearer.
“Your father doesn't want trouble. The house situation is already complicated enough.””
Rachel answered, “Once she's out of the picture, Marcus will have to deal with everything himself.””
Then the recording ended.
I looked at Kayla.
“What house situation?””
She hesitated.
“I don't know. But I heard Uncle Robert talking about it last month.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“About our house?””
Kayla nodded.
“He said something about a loan. And your name was mentioned.””
I stared at Marcus.
We had purchased our home two years earlier.
The mortgage was in both our names.
My parents had never been involved.
At least, I hadn't thought they were.
“Can you send me that recording?”” Marcus asked.
Kayla nodded.
He carefully saved a copy.
Then he asked her to preserve the original file and avoid editing or forwarding it.
When she finished, I looked toward the window.
My mother had known.
Maybe not the exact details of what Rachel intended to do.
But she had known enough to warn her.
And instead of stopping her, she'd told her to be careful.
A knock interrupted us.
A woman in a dark blazer stood in the doorway.
“Good morning. I'm Detective Morgan. I'm here to speak with Claire Bennett regarding the incident at the family gathering.””
Marcus stood.
“Do you have a moment?””
“Of course.””
The detective introduced herself and pulled up a chair.
“Claire, first, how are you feeling?””
“Exhausted. But the baby has a heartbeat.””
“I'm glad to hear that.””
She opened her notebook.
“I understand your sister, Rachel, was responsible for the physical contact.””
I nodded.
“She kicked me.””
“Was there any physical altercation before that?””
“No.””
“Did you threaten her?””
“No.””
“Did you touch her?””
“No.””
Detective Morgan wrote something down.
“Several witnesses have already been contacted. One of them is a minor who recorded the incident.””
Kayla raised her hand slightly.
“That's me.””
The detective nodded.
“Thank you for preserving the recording. We'll arrange to obtain the original.””
Marcus asked, “What happens now?””
“We'll investigate the circumstances, review the footage, interview witnesses, and coordinate with the appropriate authorities. The medical findings will also be important.””
I nodded.
Then Detective Morgan asked a question that made me uncomfortable.
“Has Rachel ever threatened you before?””
I hesitated.
Not because I couldn't remember.
Because I suddenly remembered too much.
“She once told me that my baby would ruin her life.””
“When?””
“About a month ago.””
“What did she mean?””
I swallowed.
“She was upset because our parents had promised to help with her wedding expenses. Then they found out Marcus and I were expecting a child, and my mother said she couldn't give Rachel as much money as she'd promised.””
The detective wrote that down.
“Did she say anything else?””
I remembered Rachel standing in my kitchen, staring at the framed ultrasound photograph.
“She said everyone always chose me.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“Did you understand that as a threat?””
“At the time, no.””
She nodded.
“Sometimes the meaning of a statement becomes clearer after an incident. Don't worry about having all the answers right now.””
After she left, Marcus sat beside me.
“You're not going back to that house alone.””
I looked at him.
“Our house?””
“Yes. We'll arrange for someone to accompany us when we need to collect anything.””
I nodded.
Then Kayla's phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Her expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She turned the screen toward us.
It was a message from Rachel.
*Rachel:* You need to delete that video.
Another message followed.
*Rachel:* I'm serious, Kayla. You don't understand what you've done.
Then a third.
*Rachel:* If that video gets out, everyone loses everything.
Kayla stared at the screen.
“I haven't even posted it.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Did you tell her you had copies?””
“No.””
“Then how does she know?””
Kayla went pale.
A moment later, another message appeared.
*Rachel:* Your mother says you should stay out of this. Remember who pays for your college.
Kayla's fingers trembled.
I looked at her.
“Does your mother pay for your college?””
Kayla shook her head.
“My dad does.””
“Then why would Rachel say that?””
Kayla swallowed.
“Because Aunt Linda has been promising to pay for my first year if I agree to live with her after graduation.””
Marcus exchanged a glance with me.
It was another attempt to control someone.
Another person Rachel believed she could silence.
But the next message was different.
It came from my father.
*Robert:* Claire, your mother and I need to discuss something important. Don't involve the police any further until you've heard us out.
Marcus read it over my shoulder.
“That's not happening.””
I typed a response.
*Me:* You can discuss it with the detective.
My father called immediately.
I answered and put the phone on speaker.
“Claire,” he began, “you need to understand that this situation is bigger than one argument.””
“One argument?”” I repeated.
“Rachel made a mistake.””
“She kicked my pregnant stomach, Dad.””
“She was upset.””
“So was I. I didn't kick anyone.””
He sighed.
“Your mother and I have been trying to protect this family.””
“From what?””
Silence.
Then he said something I would never forget.
“From the consequences of what your sister discovered about your husband.””
I looked at Marcus.
He stared back at me.
“What did Rachel discover?”” I asked.
My father lowered his voice.
“Ask Marcus why his company transferred money into your parents' account last spring.””
The room seemed to tilt.
I slowly turned toward my husband.
“Marcus?””
His face had gone completely still.
My father continued.
“Ask him why Rachel knows about the money. And ask him why he never told you.””
Then the call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I looked at my husband.
The man who had held my hand through every doctor's appointment.
The man who had promised to protect our daughter.
The man who had rushed to my side when my sister kicked me.
“Marcus,” I whispered.
He lowered his eyes.
“Claire, I can explain.””
My heart began pounding.
“What money?””
He took a long breath.
Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I was going to tell you after the baby was born.””
“Tell me what?””
He looked toward Kayla, then back at me.
And finally, he said the words that changed everything.
“Your parents didn't just borrow money from my company.””
May you like
He paused.
“They used your name to get it.””
