Chapter 10 - The Recording Nobody Was Supposed to HearJordan waited until the house was quiet before knocking on Michael's bedroom door.
It was almost ten at night.
Daniel was downstairs reviewing documents with Rebecca.
Michael opened the door halfway.
When he saw Jordan, his expression hardened.
"What?"
Jordan stood awkwardly in the hallway.
"I wanted to say something."
"Then say it."
"I'm sorry."
Michael stared at him.
"For what?"
Jordan looked confused.
"For pushing you."
"And?"
"For lying about it."
Michael folded his arms.
"Anything else?"
Jordan looked at the bruise beneath his eye.
"I'm sorry Mom made you eat alone."
Michael let out a short, humorless laugh.
"She didn't make me do it alone, Jordan. You sat at the table and watched."
Jordan looked down.
"I know."
"Did you ever ask why I wasn't there?"
"No."
"Did you ever tell her to stop?"
Jordan said nothing.
Michael stepped backward.
"Then don't expect me to make you feel better tonight."
He started closing the door.
"Wait."
Jordan took out his phone.
"There's something I need to show you."
Michael hesitated.
Jordan opened a video.
The image was shaky, filmed from a hallway through a partly open door.
Sarah stood in the study.
Michael was seated at the desk.
The recording was from the previous Thursday.
Sarah's voice was unmistakable.
"Sign it, Michael."
On the screen, Michael shook his head.
"I didn't steal anything."
Sarah moved closer.
"Nobody said you stole money. This statement says you handled records you shouldn't have touched."
"Then why does it say I altered them?"
Sarah hesitated.
"Because that's what happens when you interfere in things you don't understand."
The recording shook as Jordan shifted his hand.
Then Sarah leaned over the desk.
"Your father doesn't have time for another scandal. Sign it, or I'll make sure he knows you're too difficult to keep in this house."
Michael went completely still.
The video ended.
He looked up at Jordan.
"You recorded that?"
Jordan nodded.
"Why?"
"I was waiting to ask Mom for money for a school trip. I heard you arguing."
"Why didn't you help me?"
Jordan's eyes filled.
"I don't know."
Michael stared at him.
Then Jordan whispered, "I was scared of her too."
The admission changed something.
Not enough to erase what Jordan had done.
But enough for Michael to see that the other boy had also been living under Sarah's rules.
"Did Mom know you recorded it?" Michael asked.
"No."
"Does she know you still have it?"
"I don't think so."
Michael sat on the edge of his bed.
Jordan remained standing.
"Can I send it to Dad?"
Michael considered.
"If you do, she's going to know."
"I know."
"She'll be furious."
Jordan swallowed.
"I know that too."
For several seconds, the only sound was the old ceiling fan turning above them.
Then Michael said, "You should tell him yourself."
Jordan nodded.
Together, they went downstairs.
Daniel looked up when he saw them.
Rebecca set aside her coffee.
"What's wrong?"
Jordan placed his phone on the table.
"I lied about what happened Thursday."
Daniel rose slowly.
"I know you pushed Michael."
"That's not all."
He played the recording.
Daniel watched without moving.
Sarah's voice filled the room.
The threat was unmistakable.
When the video ended, nobody spoke.
Daniel replayed the final seconds.
Too difficult to keep in this house.
He looked at Michael.
"She made you believe I would abandon you."
Michael nodded.
Daniel turned to Jordan.
"Thank you for showing me."
Jordan began crying.
"I should've stopped her."
Daniel put a hand on his shoulder.
"You should have told someone. And pushing Michael was wrong."
Jordan wiped his face.
"I know."
"But hiding the truth now would have made things worse."
Michael stood beside the couch, silent.
Daniel looked at both boys.
"I need to ask you something difficult."
They waited.
"Is there anything else either of you is afraid to tell me?"
Jordan shook his head.
Michael hesitated.
Daniel noticed.
"Michael?"
His son looked at Rebecca.
Then back at him.
"Sarah told the school something about me."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
"She said I was dangerous."
Jordan's head snapped toward him.
"What?"
Michael's voice was barely audible.
"She told the counselor I threatened Jordan with a knife."
Daniel felt the blood drain from his face.
He knew Michael.
He knew the house.
He knew that something this serious could not simply be dismissed.
"Did anything like that happen?"
"No."
Jordan shook his head urgently.
"No, Dad. He never did that."
Daniel looked from one boy to the other.
"Then we're going to find out exactly what the school was told."
Michael lowered his eyes.
"There's another part."
Daniel waited.
"They made a plan for me to transfer schools."
"Who did?"
"Sarah and the counselor."
Daniel felt his pulse quicken.
"When?"
May you like
Michael swallowed.
"Next Monday."
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