Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I jump to my feet. “Sara, what’s wrong? Is Jason okay?”
“Jason’s fine,” she says, “but you’re the one who clearly isn’t.”
I pause. What’s going on? “Excuse me?”
She doesn’t answer, just pulls her phone out and taps the screen. Then she brings it over and shoves the phone toward me. My stomach lurches as I see it—a grainy video of Amelia and me in the pool, our bodies tangled as we made love. My breath stops, my heart hammering as a sickening wave of shock floods my veins.
“Sara, what—” I choke out, instantly filled with concern for Amelia more than anything else. My eyes flick from the screen to Sara’s face, and what I see is her smile, cold, triumphant, like a predator baring its teeth.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you, Max?” she hisses, her voice low and venomous. “Sneaking around, fucking your own blood sister? Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
Her eyes are blazing with hatred. I watch in amazement, noting how deranged she seems.
“I saw it from the start," she says. "At the funeral, the way you looked at her, like you couldn’t wait to fuck her. Who could have imagined that you had the hots for her? Your own sister. But I knew right then that you did. But it was all well and good. It was just the opening I needed Max to get out of this nightmare you call a ‘relationship’.”
She makes air quotes out of the word relationship.
“To get away from you. It was clear to me that all you needed was a little nudge ,and so I invited her here, dressed her up like a tart, and left you alone with her. And you fell for it, you sick, stupid bastard.”
My head spins, shock and fury crashing together, but I manage to keep myself calm. “Okay, you planned it and then recorded us. What for? What the fuck do you want?”
“I want everything that you’re worth,” she says. "But since I’m compassionate, unlike you, I’ll settle for three-quarters. Three-quarters of everything, Max. The money, the houses, everything. And I’m keeping Jason—I won’t let my son be corrupted by a pervert like you.” She steps back, her smile curling, smug and vicious. “I hope with this video it is clear that I have all the leverage here, and you stand to lose everything. So don’t even try fighting with me, or bother engaging lawyers. Any complications to this straight forward transfer of wealth will mean this video goes public. Your friends, your business partners—all of them will know: more than anything you love screwing your own sister. No judge will let you near Jason after that. You’ll lose everything.”
I don’t react. Maybe because the threats haven’t sunk in, or maybe it’s because I finally see a way out, for me and Amelia. For the first time, I see it. I see through her facade. Maybe this is why I could never truly love her or connect to her, because underneath, she has always been dishonest. There has always been this madness festering. But now it’s all out in the open, her sweet, helpful facade—her girl-next-door niceness—unraveling to reveal a cunning, conniving creature.
“You’re insane,” I say softly, mostly to myself.
She laughs. “I’ll be the richest insane woman alive then.”
“Let’s make a few things clear," I say. "First of all, you’re not taking Jason. And second of all you’re not taking anything. Not one red cent.”
She laughs, a brittle, venomous sound. "I’m not going to argue with you, Max. I have this video with me, so I’ll give you time to think. To think if being stubborn and fighting me is worth the consequences and devastation I will bring to your life. And Amelia’s. Hers will be extra ruined. She illustrates children’s books. Imagine word getting out that behind the sweet innocent persona she shows to her fans, she fucks her own brother when his wife is not around. So ... think about it, Max, and think well about all that is at stake because right now I assure you I have nothing to lose, so I am going to fight this to the very end. I am, after all, the wronged wife. The victim. You’ve got until tomorrow to decide. By the way, I’ve other copies of this video. My death will mean they get released.”
With this, she takes her leave, and the door slams shut.
I settle back into the chair and run through countermeasures in my mind. I have to admit that I am quite surprised. I never saw this coming, but at the same time, I can’t say that I am completely displeased. She only wants three-quarters. I can build it all back up again. As long as I can get her to sign a binding DNA. The only sticking point is Jason. How will this affect him? He loves Amelia, and the problem doesn’t seem insurmountable. I think of Amelia and wonder if Sara has already told her.