Chapter 4: The Letter My Mother Hid
I held the envelope in my hands for almost a minute before opening it.
My fingers felt strangely heavy.
A part of me wanted to tear it apart.
Another part of me was afraid of what I would find.
Because my mother had always been honest with me.
At least, I thought she had.
She was the person who stayed when everyone else left.
The person who worked two jobs when money was tight.
The person who told me my father was complicated, but never evil.
So why would she hide something this important?
My father stood across the room, silent.
I looked at him.
“Did you know about this?””
His jaw tightened.
“No.””
“Don’t lie to me.””
“I’m not.””
His voice was low.
“I knew your mother was hiding something from you. I didn’t know she left a letter.””
Eleanor Voss watched us from the doorway.
She looked almost amused.
“This is exactly what I expected.””
I turned toward her.
“What does that mean?””
She stepped closer.
“It means your father still thinks he can control the situation.””
My father immediately moved between us.
“Enough.””
Eleanor smiled.
“You always were protective.””
“Leave my daughter out of this.””
“Your daughter?””
The woman tilted her head.
“That’s interesting.””
My stomach tightened.
“What are you talking about?””
Neither of them answered.
I hated that.
I hated standing there while adults whispered about my own life like I wasn’t part of it.
I grabbed the envelope tighter.
“No more secrets.””
My voice echoed through the office.
Everyone looked at me.
“I’m done being the person everyone protects without explaining anything.””
My father looked at me.
I continued.
“If this involves me, then I deserve to know.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my father slowly nodded.
“You’re right.””
He looked tired.
Older.
“I should have told you years ago.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single folded letter.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My mother’s.
I unfolded it.
My eyes moved across the first line.
My daughter,
I stopped breathing.
If you are reading this, then the truth has found you before I was ready.
I swallowed.
The room disappeared.
There was only her voice.
Your father did not abandon you because he stopped loving you.
My eyes moved faster.
He left because someone wanted to use you to hurt him.
I looked up.
My father looked away.
The letter continued.
There is a reason I never told you about your father’s world. There are people who believe power belongs only to those born into it.
I frowned.
Power?
What did that even mean?
They believe you are the key to something your father tried to destroy.
My hands went cold.
I stopped reading.
“What is this?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at my father.
“What does she mean?””
He took a slow breath.
“Your mother was involved in something dangerous.””
“What kind of something?””
He looked at Eleanor.
The woman finally spoke.
“Your mother discovered that your father’s company was built on a secret.””
My father’s eyes hardened.
“That’s not true.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“You know it is.””
I looked between them.
“My father’s company?””
My father shook his head.
“Eleanor twists everything.””
“Then tell her the truth.””
Silence.
That was the answer.
My chest tightened.
“You don’t even deny it.””
My father looked at me.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No.””
I stepped back.
“You were trying to protect me by disappearing?””
His expression broke.
“I thought distance would keep you safe.””
“And did it?””
I pointed toward the photograph.
“The people who found me were still here.””
My father had no response.
For the first time, I saw regret on his face.
Not the kind people showed when they got caught.
The kind people showed when they realized they had lost years they could never get back.
Eleanor walked toward the door.
“You should read the rest of the letter.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because your mother knew something.””
She paused.
“Something your father still doesn’t know.””
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you talking about?””
Eleanor smiled.
“She didn’t just hide the truth from your daughter.””
She looked at him.
“She hid it from you too.””
Then she left.
I stared at the letter.
Slowly, I unfolded the remaining pages.
The next sentence made my heart stop.
There is one thing I need you to understand.
May you like
You were never chosen because of your father.
You were chosen because of me.
