Chapter 13
Chapter 13: The Whistleblower’s Price
The diner was nearly empty, smelling of stale grease and rain. Melissa sat in a back booth, wearing a dark hoodie, nervously stirring a cup of black coffee. Ethan sat across from her. “You look paranoid, Melissa.” “Because I am,” she snapped softly,
looking at the window. “Mom is unhinged, Ethan. When you blocked her, she didn’t just get mad—she obsessed. She built a literal binder on Lauren. She’s spending her entire savings on this lawyer.” “Why are you helping us?” Ethan asked, studying his sister’s face. “A year ago, you were lounging on my couch watching my wife drown.” Melissa looked down, shame crossing her features. “Because when she kicked me out over a coffee mug,
I finally realized what you and Dad went through. I lived with her for the last ten months because I couldn’t afford my own place. It was hell. Everything is a performance. Everything is about control. And when I saw the photos of Noah... it made me sick. He’s just a baby.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a flash drive, sliding it across the table. “What’s this?” Ethan asked. “Audio recordings,” Melissa whispered. “I recorded her talking to her lawyer in the living room. She’s planning to lie on the stand.
May you like
She’s going to claim Lauren threatened her with violence the night you kicked her out. She’s paying a guy Melissa used to know to testify that he saw Lauren drinking heavily at a local bar while pregnant.” Ethan’s hand clenched into a fist so hard his knuckles popped. “That’s perjury. It’s a felony.” “It’s only a felony if you can prove it,” Melissa said.
“That flash drive proves it. But Ethan... if Mom finds out I gave you this, she will ruin me. She co-signed my car loan. She can take it back. I need you to protect me.” Ethan looked at the flash drive. A weapon that could end the lawsuit, but it came with a cost. “I’ll buy out your car loan tomorrow,” Ethan said. “Consider it settled. Thank you, Melissa.” She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Just save Noah.”
