Chapter 4 - Candace’s Secret
The financial audit revealed more than Naomi expected.
Candace’s so-called consulting firm had no clients except Trevor’s construction company.
For two years, Trevor had approved monthly payments to his sister for “brand strategy” and “vendor outreach.”
But Candace had done almost no work.
Instead, she used the money for luxury travel, designer clothing, gambling debts, and private loans.
The total was nearly $480,000.
Trevor claimed he had not known.
But Naomi had his emails.
Messages where Candace asked for more money.
Messages where Trevor approved payments without invoices.
Messages where he told his accountant, “Do not mention this to Naomi. She will make it difficult.”
When Evelyn showed Naomi the full file, Naomi felt sick.
“He lied to me about everything.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“He assumed you would never look closely.”
Naomi touched the fading bruise beneath her eye.
“He assumed I would forgive him.”
Meanwhile, Candace’s panic became rage.
She called Naomi repeatedly.
Naomi blocked her.
Then Candace appeared outside Lila’s building.
“You are ruining Trevor’s life!” she shouted from the sidewalk.
Lila called security.
Naomi stood behind the window, holding her phone as Candace screamed into the rain.
“You always hated me!” Candace yelled. “You stole my brother!”
Naomi stepped outside under the building awning.
“No,” she said. “I married him.”
Candace laughed bitterly.
“You made him weak.”
“No. I asked him to become kind.”
Candace’s face twisted.
“You are nothing without him.”
Naomi looked at her.
For years, that sentence would have broken her.
Now it only made her sad.
“I was something before Trevor,” Naomi said. “I will be something after him.”
Candace stepped closer.
“You think people will believe you?”
Naomi held up her phone.
“The court will believe bank records.”
Candace froze.
Naomi continued.
“And the police will believe the kitchen security camera you forgot Trevor installed after the break-in last year.”
Candace’s face lost color.
The camera.
It had captured everything.
The slap.
Trevor standing nearby.
His demand that Naomi apologize.
Candace looked toward the street.
Then she walked away.
May you like
For the first time, she understood that Naomi had not become dangerous because she was angry.
Naomi had become dangerous because she was no longer afraid.
