Chapter 2 - The Sunday Family Gathering
Twenty-four hours before finding the envelope, Nancy had sat at the long dining table in her aunt's lavish brick home, surrounded by expensive silver and fake smiles.
Nancy’s grandfather, Elijah Harper, had passed away three years ago. Since then, Cousin Dale had appointed himself the sole executor of the estate, claiming Elijah had died penniless, leaving behind only debts and a dilapidated rural farmhouse.
Nancy, a hardworking widowed mother trying to pay off her late husband’s medical bills, had been forced to work two jobs just to keep a roof over her seven-year-old daughter’s head.
"Nancy, dear, pass the gravy," Aunt Evelyn had said with a patronizing sigh, smoothing her gold bracelets. "We were just talking about how generous Dale has been, paying off your grandfather’s back taxes out of his own pocket."
Dale had smirked from the head of the table, cutting his expensive steak. "It’s what family does, Evelyn. Even when Elijah left the family in financial ruin, I stepped up to handle the mess."
Nancy had kept her head down, quietly enduring their condescending comments. "I just want to clear out Grandpa's basement this weekend so we can list the old house. I don't want to be a burden."
Dale had instantly stopped chewing. His eyes had narrowed as he stared across the table at Nancy, his fork hovering in mid-air.
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"There's nothing in that basement but trash, Nancy," Dale had said coldly, his tone dripping with unnatural authority. "I’ll handle the cleanout myself next week. Don't you dare go down there."
👉 What was Dale hiding in the house that made him panic the moment Nancy offered to help clean?
