I felt my hands slip and the world went dark — but what the police found on Eleanor's phone explained everything.

Time stopped.

Eleanor's head snapped toward us. Her eyes widened when she saw me. The pillow slipped from her fingers, landing on the floor with a soft thud.

"Claire," she breathed. "What are you doing here?"

I couldn't speak. I could only stare at the pillow. At Mother, lying still in the bed, her face pale.

"What were you doing?" Ethan demanded, his voice like ice. He stepped in front of me, shielding me.

"I was... adjusting her pillow," Eleanor said, recovering quickly. She smoothed her dress, her face regaining that cold composure. "She was uncomfortable. What are you doing sneaking into my house in the middle of the night?"

"Your house?" I found my voice. "It's not your house yet, Eleanor. And we both know you weren't adjusting anything."

Mother stirred then. Her eyes fluttered open.

"Claire?" she whispered, her voice weak. "Is that you, darling?"

I rushed to her side, pushing past Eleanor. I took her hand. It was ice cold.

"I'm here, Mother. I'm here."

Tears filled her eyes. "They told me you were hurt. That you fell. I was so worried."

"I'm okay," I lied. "I'm fine. Mother, I need to talk to you. About Eleanor. About the will. About everything."

Eleanor stepped forward. "Now is not the time. She needs her rest."

"Get out," I said, not looking at her.

"Excuse me?"

"I said get out," I repeated, turning to face her. "This is my mother. And I'm not leaving her alone with you for another second."

Eleanor laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You think you can just walk back in here and take over? After everything you did three years ago? You're a thief and a liar, Claire. And everyone knows it."

"Enough," Mother said suddenly. Her voice was stronger than I'd heard it in months.

We both turned to her.

"Eleanor," Mother said. "Leave us. Now."

Eleanor's face twisted. "But Mother—"

"I said leave," Mother repeated. "Or I'll have the butler escort you out."

For a moment, I thought Eleanor would refuse. Her eyes burned with hatred. But then she smiled that cold, dangerous smile.

"Of course, Mother," she said sweetly. "Family first, after all."

She walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Mother squeezed my hand.

"She was going to kill me, wasn't she?" Mother whispered.

I nodded, tears spilling over. "I think so. Mother, why did you change the will? Why leave everything to me?"

Mother sighed, her eyes closing for a moment.

"I found out," she said. "About the money. About what Eleanor has been doing. And I realized... I was wrong about you, Claire. Terribly wrong. Those missing funds three years ago... it was Eleanor, wasn't it? She framed you."

The words I'd waited three years to hear. My own mother finally believing me.

"Yes," I choked out. "Yes, it was her."

"I know," Mother said, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. "I've known for months. I was so ashamed. I turned my own daughter away. I believed a stranger over my own flesh and blood."

She reached up, touching my face.

"I changed the will because you're the only one I trust. The only one who deserves it. James is weak. He'll do whatever Eleanor tells him. But you... you're strong. Like your father. You'll do what's right."

"Mother, we need to get you out of here," Ethan said gently. "She'll try again. Tonight if she thinks she can get away with it."

Mother nodded slowly. "I know. I'll come with you. But first... there's something you need. Something that will destroy Eleanor once and for all."

She reached under her mattress and pulled out a small, leather-bound journal.

"She kept records," Mother said. "Eleanor. She wrote everything down. Every transaction. every threat. every lie. She thought she hid it well, but I found it last week. I was going to give it to the police, but then I got sick... and she was always around..."

I took the journal. It was heavier than it looked.

"This is it," Ethan said, looking at the book. "This is everything we need."

A loud crash from downstairs made us all jump.

"She knows," Mother whispered. "She knows we have it."

Ethan moved to the door, peering out into the hallway.

"The front door just slammed," he said. "She's leaving. But she'll be back. With help. We need to go. Now."

He helped Mother out of bed. She was weak, but she could walk with support. We moved quickly down the back stairs, the journal clutched tightly in my hand.

We were almost to the kitchen door when the lights came on.

Bright. Blinding.

And there, standing in the doorway, was Eleanor.

She wasn't alone.

Two men stood behind her. Big men. With hard faces.