Chapter 8: The Secret My Mother Kept for Eight Years
I couldn't move.
The paper sat in front of me.
The words were right there.
But my brain refused to accept them.
The witness statement.
The hotel report.
The name.
My mother's name.
I looked at Daniel.
"You're saying my mother attacked my father?""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
"Then why is her name here?""
"Because she was there.""
My mother closed her eyes.
"I knew this day would come.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew?""
She looked at me.
And the sadness on her face hurt more than anger would have.
"Yes.""
My voice cracked.
"How long?""
"Eight years.""
The number felt impossible.
Eight years of birthdays.
Eight years of holidays.
Eight years of her telling me my father was gone.
"You knew he was alive?""
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Yes.""
Everything inside me broke.
I stepped backward.
"No.""
"Marcus...""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You watched me mourn him.""
Tears filled her eyes.
"I had no choice.""
"Everyone says that.""
My voice rose.
"Everyone always has a reason.""
She reached for me.
I moved away.
The movement hurt her.
I saw it.
But I couldn't stop.
"Why?""
My mother wiped her tears.
"Because your father asked me to.""
I froze.
"What?""
Daniel nodded.
"She's telling the truth.""
I looked at him.
"Explain.""
He pulled out another letter.
"This was written by your father.""
My mother touched the paper.
"He told me never to show you unless someone found the truth.""
I took it.
My father's handwriting.
Again.
My hands shook as I opened it.
"Linda,
If Marcus learns the truth, it means I failed to protect him.
Do not tell him I survived.
Do not tell him where I am.
The people who tried to destroy me will come after him next.""
I stopped reading.
My mother's name.
Linda.
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me he was alive?""
She whispered:
"Because he made me promise.""
I stared at the letter.
"What kind of father asks his son to believe he's dead?""
My mother's tears fell.
"A father who thought dying was the only way to save his son.""
The words silenced me.
Daniel continued.
"Your father discovered Richard Mitchell wasn't working alone.""
"Who else?""
He looked at Vanessa.
She already knew.
"Someone inside your family.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"No.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Your mother kept the secret because she was protecting you too.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"Protecting me?""
"Yes.""
"From what?""
Daniel looked at the door.
Then back at her.
"From knowing what your father did.""
Vanessa stood.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel reached into his folder.
He pulled out a photograph.
A younger Richard Mitchell.
Standing beside another man.
A man I recognized.
I felt my stomach drop.
Because I had seen him at every family event.
Every holiday.
Every celebration.
My uncle.
My father's brother.
Daniel placed the picture down.
"Your father discovered his own brother was involved.""
My mother whispered:
"Robert.""
I looked at her.
"Uncle Robert?""
She nodded.
"He was the one your father feared.""
The room became overwhelming.
My family.
Her family.
Everyone connected.
Everyone hiding something.
I turned toward Vanessa.
"And you knew?""
She shook her head.
"Not about Robert.""
"But about my father.""
She cried.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Enough to know he was alive.""
My anger returned.
"Then why did you marry me?""
She looked broken.
"Because I wanted to find him.""
"What?""
She wiped her face.
"When I discovered my mother had been involved, I thought your father had the answers.""
"And you thought marrying me would lead you to him.""
She didn't deny it.
"I didn't know how else to get close to the truth.""
I looked away.
The woman I loved had entered my life with a hidden purpose.
Even if her reasons were complicated.
The betrayal was real.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
"What?""
I watched his face lose color.
"Where?""
Everyone stared.
Daniel ended the call.
"Marcus.""
"What?""
He looked at me.
"Your father has been found.""
My heart stopped.
"Alive?""
Daniel nodded.
But he didn't look relieved.
He looked afraid.
"Yes.""
A pause.
May you like
Then:
"But he's been hiding because someone found him first.""
