Chapter 5 - The Trap is Set
I stared at the hunting knife gleaming under the dim light of the range hood.
My heart hammered aggressively against my ribs, but I refused to let Gregory see my fear.
"Are you threatening me in my own kitchen, Greg?" I asked, keeping my voice perfectly even.
Gregory chuckled darkly and folded the blade back into its handle.
"I am just peeling an apple, Claire, you are getting way too paranoid," he mocked.
He walked past me, deliberately bumping his shoulder hard against mine as he left the room.
I took a deep breath to steady my shaking hands and poured a glass of cold water.
I needed a recorded confession from Daniel to destroy their fake tenant lease and the fake notary stamp.
I walked into the living room where Daniel was sitting on the couch, watching television in the dark.
I sat down in the armchair across from him and put my face in my hands, pretending to cry.
"I am just so tired of fighting with you, Daniel," I sobbed convincingly.
Daniel muted the television immediately, completely falling for my sudden display of weakness.
"I told you this would be easier if you just let my family take the lead," he said arrogantly.
I slipped my phone out of my pocket and silently hit the record button.
"Why did you forge my signature on the home loan, Daniel?" I asked in a broken, defeated voice.
Daniel smiled a smug, victorious smile because he thought he had finally broken my spirit.
"I owe half a million dollars to a very dangerous sports betting syndicate," Daniel admitted casually.
"I needed the equity from your stupid house to pay them off before they broke my legs," he gloated.
I kept the tears flowing to ensure he kept talking.
"But why did Greg have to fake the notary stamp?" I whimpered.
"Because you were too selfish to just give me the money freely, so we had to get creative," Daniel laughed.
I had everything I needed on the recording to send them all to federal prison.
Suddenly, the living room lights flipped on, blinding me momentarily.
Margaret marched into the room wearing a sharp business suit instead of her silk robe.
"Stop crying and go make yourself presentable, Claire," Margaret ordered sharply.
May you like
"Why?" I asked, wiping away my fake tears.
"Because the cash buyers are arriving in twenty minutes to purchase this house entirely," Margaret announced.
