Chapter 3

Judy showed up at the office not long after Hank’s passing.

Just like in my previous life, she used the same excuse to pressure me into giving her the business.

“My son lost his life because of you. Shouldn’t you compensate me?”

“What do you want?”

Raising my brow, I watched her put on the waterworks.

Judy’s expression softened as she acted like she was doing me a favor. “Give your car and house to Lyra. She lost her brother. It’s the least you can do since she needs support.”

“And?”

“You should give up your business to me.

“You’re responsible for Hank’s death, and I don’t have a son to lean on anymore. It’s only fair I get the business.”

I could not hold back from chuckling, and Judy was not having it.

“You’re happy that Hank is dead, aren’t you? Did you kill him to get with your lover?”

Brushing her absurd accusations off, I slid a bank card toward her.

“You’re not getting my car, house, or business.

“Here’s everything Hank owned. Sign here to acknowledge receipt.”

I placed a document in front of her. She took a glance at the paperwork and became pissed.

Hank had little assets to his name. All he had going on was his steady job working in senior management.

Due to his pride, he had been wiring money to Jude and Lyra in secret. He had 100,000 dollars left in his bank account.

“I bet you and your lover killed my son. Now, you’re after his money, you evil woman! Woe is me! How could my son die before me?”

I had enough of her accusations. Fed up, I blew up.

“Since you insist I killed Hank, let’s let the police look into his death.

“The police should examine the crime scene, talk to the driver and funeral home staff, and check the surveillance footage.

“We’ll see if I killed him, or—”

I pulled out my phone to dial the emergency line when Judy held my hand down. “I’ll sign it! I’ll sign!”

Judy put her signature on the document, even glaring before leaving.

I pulled a long face. Instead of waiting for things to happen, I decided to take the bull by the horns.

From the photo Judy showed me in my previous life, Hank and Claudia lived comfortably.

Judy must have walked away with my business and gave it to Hank.

With that in mind, I hurried down the stairs and stalked her.

Soon, I saw Claudia approaching with a bearded man in a pair of aviators and a hat.

To avoid detection, I kept my distance and observed from afar.

Judy said something, which Claudia and the man responded with disappointment.

That day, I followed them to their apartment in the heart of the city. I noted the apartment number.

I returned to the office and called my assistant in.

“Help me to get in touch with the owner of this apartment.”

My assistant worked fast, and the apartment owner’s details were on my desk by the afternoon.

I called the number on the paper.

The owner jumped at the chance when I offered to pay for his apartment at a premium and in cash.

My name was on the title deed within a day.

“There are tenants in the apartment. Should I end the tenancy?”

I shook my head. “No need. I’ll talk to them myself.”

The next day, I went to the apartment with a moving company.

Judy opened the door to me.

Flustered, she blocked the door and denied me entry.

“Rochelle? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take possession of the apartment.”

I pushed her aside and swaggered into the place.

As I explored the apartment, Judy panicked, craned her neck, and shouted toward a room at the end of the corridor. “You’re breaking and entering, Rochelle! I’m going to call the cops on you!

“Help! There’s a killer in the house!”

I strode to that room.

With my hand on the knob, I pushed the door open.

There Claudia was.

“Hank had always talked about you. We meet at last, but…”

Claudia wiped away a fake tear. No time for her theatrics, I brushed past her extended arm and barged inside.

The room was a stud, and a bookshelf stood in the center with a cabinet next to it. The size of the cabinet could fit an adult.

I stood before the cabinet, smiling at Claudia’s tense nerves.

Just as I was about to open the cabinet, Claudia’s act fell apart.