The Fifty Million Dollar Secret

te one night, I went upstairs for a glass of water and heard voices fro

I thought you were going to handle it. If

hisper. "The supplements I've been putting in

te in the orange juice he' d been making me every morning. I thought ab

t words hit me li

arrange another 'accident.' Like the hit-and-run that put her

e had called it a tragic, unsolved accident. My mother had survived it, but she was never the sa

accident. I

other for her bakery, her savings, her life insurance. And n

ling. The shock gave way to a cold, hard rag

moment. Jessica came clomping do

e sneered. "Rent's due on

table, pulled the folded copy of the house deed f

nt," I said, my

w furrowed. Kevin came over and read

y dad and Brenda, who had just entered the room. "It's in my

sica shrieked that I was a liar

lived in my mother's house. And I want the money I fronted for your truck, Kevin. And the m

s face. She swayed, clutching h

ide, glaring at me. "L

t the door and to the car, pres

ting arm on my shoulder. "Chloe, I'm so sorry.

gged h

smooth. "Jessica will be fine once she gets the condo

ye, my face a blank mask. "Oka