Chapter 3 - The InterrogationFor five agonizing seconds, the only sound in the foyer was the ticking of the grandfather clock.
My father’s mouth opened, but no words came out. His face cycled through shades of pale white and furious crimson. He gripped the edge of the hallway console table so hard his knuckles turned translucent.
"You..." Richard choked out, pointing a trembling finger toward the old man. "You’re... you’re alive."
"A profound disappointment to you, it would seem," Arthur replied smoothly, taking a slow sip of his whiskey. "Come in, family. Don't stand in the draft. We have a great deal of business to discuss."
With leaden steps, they walked into the living room like defendants entering a courtroom. My mother sank heavily onto the edge of the sofa, her hands trembling as she clutched her handbag. Ethan remained standing, his eyes darting wildly between his grandfather and me, his bravado entirely evaporated.
"Grandpa," Ethan stammered, a forced, nervous laugh escaping his lips. "Man, you had us terrified. We thought... well, Claire called and said—"
"Claire said what I instructed her to say," Arthur interrupted, his voice dropping an octave, cutting through Ethan’s excuses like a scalpel. "She tested a hypothesis. And unfortunately for all of you, it proved correct beyond my darkest expectations."
Richard found his footing, crossing his arms defensively across his chest, trying to reclaim a shred of paternal authority. "This is absurd, Dad. A tasteless joke! You had a stroke, you’re recovering, and you let Claire pull this manipulative stunt? Do you have any idea the emotional distress you’ve caused us?"
"Emotional distress?" Arthur slammed his glass down on the side table. The sharp clink made everyone flinch. "You heard that I had passed away, Richard, and your immediate reaction was, 'So the old man finally died.' Not a tear. Not a prayer. Just an audit of your relief."
"I was in shock!" Richard snapped back, his voice rising defensively. "People say stupid things when they're—"
"And you, Linda?" Arthur turned his piercing gaze toward my mother. "You laughed. You assumed the house was yours before my body was even cold."
"I was laughing at the absurdity of Claire thinking she deserved anything!" Linda protested, her voice shrill. "After everything we’ve sacrificed for this family—"
"Sacrificed?" Arthur’s laughter was dry and humorless. "You haven't visited this house in eight months except to check if my name was still on the deed. But someone has been visiting. Frequently."
Arthur gestured toward the bookshelf in the corner.
May you like
"Someone unlocked my safe last Tuesday at 2:14 PM. They downloaded digital copies of my offshore accounts, my real estate portfolio, and my final will and testament."
Ethan swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently. He didn't say a word.
