At dinner, my parents demanded I apologize to their golden son or lose my education. I said, "Alright." By dawn, I was packed. My brother’s face drained white: "Please tell me you didn’t send it." Dad froze. "Send what?"

The leather chair slowly swiveled around to face us.

Brandon sat there with a terrifyingly calm smile on his face.

"You really are a persistent little pest, Ava," Brandon sighed.

"You attacked your own father?" I yelled, staring at the blood on the floor.

Brandon casually inspected his manicured fingernails.

"He was going to cut me off after the police questioned him about the fraud," Brandon complained.

"I simply expedited my inheritance from his life insurance policy," he added coldly.

Chloe stepped forward with her fists clenched in rage.

"You are a monster, Brandon," she spat.

Brandon laughed and tossed a shiny brass lighter onto the gasoline-soaked carpet.

Flames erupted instantly, blocking the only exit door.

"Enjoy the fire, ladies," Brandon sneered as he slipped out through the private balcony door.

He locked the heavy glass balcony door from the outside, trapping us in the inferno.

The intense heat singed my hair as thick black smoke filled the room.

"We have to break the window!" Chloe yelled over the roaring flames.

I grabbed a heavy bronze statue from my father's desk and hurled it at the reinforced glass.

The window shattered, letting in a rush of freezing night air.

I climbed onto the ledge, but Chloe suddenly screamed in pain.

A burning ceiling beam had collapsed directly onto her leg.

When my newborn 'passed away,' my mother-in-law leaned in and said

My Husband Left Me Alone in My Car While I Was in Labor

“You’re Dead When We Get Home,” He Snapped

I turned back to help her, but the flash drive slipped from my pocket and fell straight into the fire.

Our only proof of my innocence melted into a puddle of useless plastic.

Chapter 5 - The Mastermind