Part 2: My aunt wanted to adopt my little sister after our parents d*ed just to get her hands on the money — she had no idea I had one more card to play.

“We’re taking legal steps.”

Then her voice changed.

“Michael, Howard has also threatened us.”

I lifted my head.

“He said if your father went to police, he would expose something about our family.”

My heart pounded.

“What?”

As though she could hear me, Mom answered.

“The photographs.”

I leaned forward.

“Years ago, before you were born, your father made a mistake.”

I swallowed.

“He was involved in an accident. A young woman was badly injured.”

My stomach turned.

“He wasn’t driving. But he helped the driver leave before police arrived.”

I stared at the screen.

“Your father has carried that guilt all his life.”

Mom’s voice trembled.

“Howard somehow obtained photographs connecting him to the scene.”

So that was the blackmail.

“He told us he would release them if we reported the missing money.”

I felt sick.

“But your father has decided to confess what happened.”

I blinked.

“He says living with the truth is better than living beneath Howard’s hand.”