Chapter 10: The Person Standing Beside Me
I stared at the name on the screen.
For several seconds, my brain refused to accept it.
I refreshed the file.
Then I checked again.
Same name.
Same information.
Same connection.
I had spent days searching for the person behind Sarah’s actions.
I expected a stranger.
A hidden partner.
Someone from her past.
Someone I could point to and say, There. That’s the person who helped destroy my family.
I never expected it to be someone I had invited into my home.
Someone I had trusted.
Someone who had watched me defend my son while secretly helping the person hurting him.
Jordan.
Sarah’s son.
My hands went cold.
“No.””
The word came out quietly.
Not because I was defending him.
Because I was trying to understand.
Jordan was only nineteen.
He was young.
He was impulsive.
He wasn’t Sarah.
He wasn’t the person who planned everything.
At least, that was what I wanted to believe.
I immediately called Daniel.
“Tell me this is wrong.””
A pause.
“Marcus…”
“Tell me you made a mistake.””
“I checked three times.””
I closed my eyes.
“What exactly did he do?””
“We don’t know everything yet.””
“Then what do we know?””
“The account Sarah used received transfers from your son’s inheritance.””
“And Jordan?””
“The account was opened under his name.””
I stood from my chair.
“No.””
“Marcus.””
“No.””
My voice rose.
“Jordan grew up with Sarah. He didn’t know what he was doing.””
Daniel was silent.
Then he said something I didn’t want to hear.
“Maybe.””
That one word bothered me.
Because it meant there was another possibility.
Maybe he did know.
I ended the call.
For a long time, I sat alone.
Then I heard footsteps.
Michael.
He stood in the doorway.
“Dad?””
I quickly locked my phone.
“What’s wrong?””
I looked at him.
I hated that he had become so good at reading my emotions.
“Nothing.””
He shook his head.
“You’re doing it again.””
“Doing what?””
“Pretending everything is okay.””
I looked away.
He walked closer.
“Is it about Sarah?””
I nodded slowly.
“Partly.””
“What happened?””
I didn’t want to tell him.
Not yet.
He had already carried too much.
But I also promised myself I would never hide the truth from him again.
“There’s something about Jordan.””
Michael’s expression changed.
“What about him?””
I hesitated.
“He might have been involved.””
Michael looked confused.
“Involved how?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
His face fell.
“No.””
“Michael.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Jordan wouldn’t do that.””
“You’re sure?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Michael looked down.
“Because he’s not like her.””
That surprised me.
“What do you mean?””
Michael sat down.
“Jordan didn’t like what she did.””
I stared at him.
“How do you know?””
“He told me.””
“When?””
“A few months ago.””
My chest tightened.
“What did he tell you?””
Michael looked nervous.
“He said he was sorry.””
“For what?””
“He said his mom was becoming someone he didn’t recognize.””
I stood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Michael looked guilty.
“Because he asked me not to.””
I sighed.
There it was again.
Secrets.
Everyone in this house had been carrying them.
Everyone except me.
“What else did he say?””
Michael looked at the floor.
“He said he found something.””
“What?””
“He didn’t tell me.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“Where is Jordan?””
Michael looked up.
“I don’t know.””
But I knew who would.
Sarah.
And if Jordan was scared enough to apologize to my son, maybe he wasn’t my enemy.
Maybe he was another person trapped inside Sarah’s plans.
I found Jordan outside a coffee shop two hours later.
He looked surprised when he saw me.
“Marcus.””
“Sit.””
He looked nervous.
“Is everything okay?””
“No.””
He looked away.
“I figured.””
I sat across from him.
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“Because my mom called me last night.””
“What did she say?””
“That you found out.””
I watched his face carefully.
“Found out what?””
Jordan didn’t answer.
That was the moment I knew.
He knew more than he admitted.
“Jordan.””
He looked at me.
“I need the truth.””
His eyes filled.
“I was trying to fix it.””
“Fix what?””
“Everything.””
I waited.
“My mom started this before you married her.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
“What?””
Jordan looked down.
“She was already planning things.””
“How much did you know?””
“Not at first.””
“Jordan.””
He closed his eyes.
“I knew she was hiding money.””
My jaw tightened.
“But I didn’t know what she was doing to Michael.””
“Until when?””
He looked ashamed.
“Until I saw the box.””
My heart stopped.
“The box.””
He nodded.
“I found it.””
“Where?””
“In my mom’s closet.””
“Why did you have it?””
“I didn’t.””
He shook his head.
“She hid it there.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was scared.””
“Of what?””
He looked at me.
“Of becoming like her.””
The answer surprised me.
Jordan took a deep breath.
“My mom always told me we deserved more.””
“More?””
“A bigger house. More money. A better life.””
I stared at him.
“And she thought I was part of the plan.””
Jordan looked sick.
“She said you were easy to influence because you were lonely.””
My stomach tightened.
“She said Michael was the only thing standing between us and everything we wanted.””
The words felt like a knife.
I looked away.
Because now I understood.
Sarah didn’t just dislike Michael.
She saw him as an obstacle.
Jordan reached into his backpack.
“I have something.””
He placed a small drive on the table.
“What is it?””
“Copies.””
“Of what?””
“Everything my mom kept.””
I stared at him.
“Why are you giving this to me now?””
His voice broke.
“Because I saw what she did to Michael.””
A tear slipped down his face.
“And I realized I was helping hurt the one person who didn’t deserve it.””
I picked up the drive.
Before I could ask anything else, Jordan’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?””
He whispered:
“My mom.””
I watched him answer.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then Jordan went completely still.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“She knows I’m here.””
My stomach dropped.
The call ended.
May you like
Jordan looked terrified.
“She said she’s coming.””
