Chapter 7 - ETHAN'S SECRET RECORDING
Ethan had recorded Julia.
Not because anyone told him.
Because thirteen-year-olds understand phones.
One audio file began the night Molly was fired.
Ben crying.
Julia:
“You need to stop asking for her.”
Ben:
“I want Molly.”
Julia:
“Molly doesn’t live here anymore.”
Ethan:
“Dad would bring her back.”
Then Julia:
“Your father isn’t coming back.”
Harsh.
Maybe grief speaking.
Then another recording three weeks later.
Julia on phone.
“We need the boys classified as requiring structured supervision or the bank won’t approve half these expenses.”
Unknown voice:
“Don’t say classified.”
Julia:
“You know what I mean.”
Grant replayed it.
Who was the other voice?
Vanessa.
Julia’s sister.
Then:
“The more chaotic this house looks, the easier it is to justify support.”
Grant stared.
Not:
make them chaotic.
But:
chaos benefits the request.
Still ugly.
Then another line.
Julia:
“Once the court gives me broader authority, I can finally run this place without Molly poisoning them against me.”
May you like
There.
The trust money and household control were intertwined.
