Chapter 9
Alyssa finally broke.
“Jason knew.”
Everyone turned.
Jason stared at her.
“Shut up.”
She stood.
“No.”
His face hardened.
“You want your card back that badly?”
Alyssa looked at Rachel.
“He knew about the lake house for weeks.”
Rachel said nothing.
Alyssa continued.
“Dad told us you’d go there voluntarily.”
Daniel whispered:
“Alyssa.”
She ignored him.
“He said Ethan would stay with you.”
Jason laughed.
“She’s making it sound dramatic.”
Alyssa turned.
“You measured Ethan’s room.”
Silence.
Rachel looked at Jason.
“What?”
His face changed.
Alyssa continued.
“You told me you were turning it into a simulator room.”
Jason’s jaw tightened.
“It was a joke.”
“You ordered a desk.”
“I can cancel it.”
Ethan looked confused.
“My room?”
Rachel crouched.
“No one is taking your room.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Why does he need the biggest kid room anyway?”
Alyssa stared at him.
“He sleeps there.”
“So?”
There it was again.
Entitlement so complete it could no longer recognize cruelty.
Rachel stood.
“What else?”
Alyssa hesitated.
Daniel said:
“Stop.”
She looked at her father.
For the first time, anger outweighed fear.
“You told Jason he would lead Carter.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
Alyssa continued.
“You told me I’d handle family events.”
Jason looked toward her.
“That’s true.”
She laughed bitterly.
“No.”
“What?”
“Dad told me privately you were temporary.”
Jason froze.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Rachel watched the siblings turn toward their father.
“What did he tell you?” Jason asked.
Alyssa’s voice shook.
“That if the transition failed, you’d take the blame.”
Silence.
Jason laughed nervously.
“She’s lying.”
Alyssa stared.
“He said you were impulsive enough that everyone would believe you acted alone.”
Jason looked at Daniel.
His father didn’t deny it.
The boy’s face emptied.
Rachel felt no satisfaction.
Jason had tormented Ethan willingly.
But now he was learning exactly how Daniel viewed him too.
Useful.
Expendable.
Manipulable through praise.
Jason whispered:
“You said I was your successor.”
Daniel finally answered:
“You were supposed to prove you could handle it.”
Jason stared.
“And if I couldn’t?”
May you like
Daniel said nothing.
That silence was the first honest answer Jason had received from him in years.
