Chapter 12 - The Sister Who Pressed Approve
Chloe insisted Derek used her phone without permission.
The forensic examiner disagreed.
Several approvals required facial recognition.
Chloe’s face had been used.
One transfer was completed while Derek was traveling in another state.
Chloe had authorized it herself.
The amount was $76,000.
Thomas asked where the money went.
Chloe refused to answer.
Investigators found the answer inside Derek’s business account.
The money paid a private lender who had threatened to sue Chloe personally.
Years earlier, Chloe had guaranteed one of Derek’s commercial loans.
When the company collapsed, she became legally responsible.
Derek convinced her that Helen’s retirement savings could be borrowed temporarily.
They planned to repay it after refinancing the house.
Then Derek began gambling with the remaining loan money.
Chloe discovered that too.
She stayed.
When Brooke’s payments were redirected, Chloe knew.
When Derek created false rent calculations, Chloe helped.
When he changed the locks, it was Chloe who told the locksmith Brooke had voluntarily moved away.
She even signed a statement saying Brooke owned nothing inside the house except personal clothing.
Brooke read the statement inside Thomas’s office.
Her sister had reduced twelve years of care to a bag of clothes.
Thomas asked whether Brooke wanted to pursue criminal charges for theft of her property.
“Yes,” Brooke said.
The answer surprised even her.
Not because she wanted Chloe imprisoned.
Because refusing consequences had protected Chloe from reality for too long.
Meanwhile, news of the NightBridge acquisition became public.
Medical publications praised the deal.
A photograph of Brooke and Nina appeared online beneath the headline:
NURSE-FOUNDED STAFFING PLATFORM ACQUIRED IN $42 MILLION TRANSACTION.
Chloe saw it while packing boxes.
She called Brooke.
This time, Brooke answered.
“You had forty-two million dollars?” Chloe demanded.
“The company sold for forty-two. My proceeds were less.”
“You let us think you had nothing.”
“You never asked what I was building.”
“You watched us drown!”
“I paid the mortgage you stole. I paid Mom’s medical bills. I gave you a home.”
“You could have fixed Derek’s debts.”
“They were not mine to fix.”
Chloe’s breathing became sharp.
“So this was punishment?”
“No. Keeping the sale confidential was a legal obligation. Leaving your marriage was your responsibility.”
Derek entered the room behind Chloe.
Brooke heard him ask how much money she had.
The call ended.
Within an hour, Derek sent Brooke a message.
FAMILY SHOULD SHARE GOOD FORTUNE.
She forwarded it to Thomas.
Then another message arrived.
May you like
HELP US OR YOUR MOTHER LOSES EVERYTHING.
👉 Derek finally knew Brooke was wealthy—and his next plan was no longer about stealing the house alone.
