Chapter 4 - The Whispering Sister
Determined to protect my family and my dignity, I decided to confront the source directly. That afternoon, after picking Lily up from school, I dropped her off at a playdate and drove straight to Danielle’s apartment.
When Danielle opened the door, she looked surprised to see me, but her expression quickly hardened into a smirk.
"Rachel. I didn't expect you."
"We need to talk, Danielle. Now." I stepped past her into the living room before she could object.
"If you're here to complain about Mark—"
"I'm here because of the lies you've been telling my husband," I interrupted, turning to face her. "I wrote you the check for your car, Danielle. I have the bank statements to prove it. I buy Emma clothes, I host her on weekends, and I treat her like my own daughter. Why are you telling Mark I'm keeping him from his family?"
Danielle crossed her arms, unflinching. "You think you're so perfect, don't you? Living in your big house, controlling Mark's paycheck. You've always looked down on me."
"This isn't about looking down on anyone! This is about you ruining my marriage with fake stories!"
"Fake?" Danielle scoffed. "Ask Mark how much money he gave me last week, Rachel. Go on, ask him."
My heart plummeted. "What do you mean?"
"He gave me three thousand dollars for 'rent assistance,'" Danielle smiled coldly. "Because I told him you refused to let us join the family vacation next month. He felt so guilty about how 'stingy' you are that he wrote the check without a second thought."
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"I never said you couldn't come on vacation!"
"It doesn't matter what you said, Rachel," Danielle whispered, leaning in closer. "Mark believes me. He’s my brother. He’ll always choose his blood over an outsider like you."
