Chapter 5: A Family Broken

After the meeting, Rachel feigned exhaustion and left. Noah never looked at us. I felt a final, bitter disappointment—he’d chosen ambition over family.

Outside, Caleb collapsed, covering his face, sobbing in silence. Grief shook his whole body. I hurt too, but guilt ate at me. If not for Rachel’s cruelty, Lillian would still be here. Lillian’s only fault was loving me too much.

The Hayes house manager rushed in, breathless. “Caleb, there’s news.”

“Where is she?” Caleb asked, hope flickering.

The manager’s eyes darted away. “You’ll know when you get home.”

My dread grew. At the Hayes house, everyone’s faces were grave, sympathy heavy in the air.

Mother-in-law took Caleb’s hand, her voice hoarse. “They found a woman’s body in an abandoned house—clothes and figure match Lillian.”

Caleb rushed into the living room. Mother-in-law stopped me, her gaze complicated, voice trembling. “The coroner said Lillian was assaulted before death. She struggled for hours. Now she’s gone because of you. If Caleb does anything extreme, please bear with him.”

She was trying to be gentle, but the blame stung. I blamed myself too. Rachel had destroyed my heart, and now Lillian was lost. The world spun around me, cold and merciless.