Chapter 3: A Mother's Perfect Lie Falls Apart
Margaret tried one last performance.
"It wasn't supposed to happen."
Ethan stared at her.
"You admit it?"
"I only wanted to scare her."
She reached for his arm.
"She was taking you away from me."
Ethan stepped back as if she had become a stranger.
"You watched her lose the ability to walk..."
"...and you let everyone believe it was an accident."
Margaret's composure shattered.
"You don't understand!"
"I built this family."
"I protected everything your father left behind."
"Ava would have taken it all."
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"No."
"You wanted it all."
Investigators searched Margaret's private study.
Behind a hidden compartment inside her antique desk they found decades of evidence.
Secret bank accounts.
Bribes.
Forged contracts.
False medical records.
And dozens of life insurance policies.
Every woman Ethan had seriously dated had quietly disappeared after receiving generous settlements.
Ava had simply refused to leave.
So Margaret had chosen a permanent solution.
The district attorney issued arrest warrants before sunrise.
As officers escorted Margaret through the mansion, she looked toward Ethan one final time.
"You'll regret this."
He answered quietly.
May you like
"I already regret every day I trusted you."
The handcuffs clicked shut.
