Chapter 6 - The Price of Their Loyalty
My father was arrested for conspiracy and money laundering.
Mother arrived at the hospital demanding I fix it.
She stood beside my bed, crying so loudly that security entered.
“He made one mistake.”
“He created a company used to hide millions.”
“Derek pressured him.”
“Dad accepted the money.”
“We needed it.”
“You wanted it.”
She froze.
That was the truth she could not perform around.
My parents had not rejected me because they believed marriage should be permanent.
They rejected me because Derek financed their lifestyle.
Protecting me would have cost them access.
Mother lowered her voice.
“If your father goes to prison, it will kill him.”
I looked at the monitor beside my bed.
“Derek nearly killed me.”
She had no answer.
Security escorted her out.
The remains near the quarry were confirmed as Alison’s.
The medical examiner found trauma consistent with strangulation.
Mason admitted Derek called him after the attack.
He helped move the body.
He also claimed my father provided access to an abandoned company vehicle.
Dad denied knowing what the vehicle was used for.
Investigators found an old message.
Derek wrote, The Alison problem is handled.
Dad replied, Good.
Keep Emma away from it.
The message had been sent six weeks before I met Derek.
My father knew Derek was connected to Alison’s disappearance before introducing us.
That betrayal nearly broke me more than the abuse.
He had knowingly placed me beside a dangerous man because Derek promised business opportunities.
Rachel sat quietly while I cried.
When the tears stopped, she asked one question.
“What do you want next?”
“Everything documented.”
“No private settlement.”
“No family silence.”
The prosecutor offered Dad a reduced sentence if he testified against Derek.
He accepted immediately.
In court, he admitted knowing Derek had “serious trouble” involving Alison.
He claimed he never knew she was dead.
He also admitted encouraging me to marry Derek because he believed the connection would benefit the family.
Mother listened from the gallery.
Her face remained blank.
The perfect family story ended under oath.
My parents lost the Lake Forest house.
Dad’s business collapsed.
Their apartment lease was terminated after the account freeze.
I did not celebrate.
May you like
Consequences were not revenge.
They were simply the cost of choices finally reaching the people who made them.
