Chapter 8: The Truth Buried In The Past
The sound of cars outside turned my house into a prison.
Three vehicles.
Maybe four.
I couldn’t see who was inside.
But I knew one thing.
They weren’t here to talk.
I grabbed Noah’s hand.
“Mason, get behind me.””
He moved immediately.
That surprised me.
Two days ago, he was just my wife’s son.
Now he was standing beside Noah like a brother.
Emily looked at me.
“We need to go.””
Robert shook his head.
“Not yet.””
I stared at him.
“Are you serious?””
“They expect you to run.””
“Because people are outside my house.””
Robert looked toward the window.
“They want you scared.””
I stepped closer.
“Who are they?””
He looked at Linda.
“Tell him.””
My mother said nothing.
“Tell him!””
Her face remained cold.
“You think knowing changes anything?””
I felt my anger rise.
“Yes.””
I pointed toward Noah.
“Because my son has spent years thinking he wasn’t wanted.””
My mother looked at Noah.
For a second, I thought I saw regret.
Then it disappeared.
“Daniel, you don’t understand.””
“I understand enough.””
“No, you don’t.””
She stepped closer.
“You think this is about Noah.””
I frowned.
“What else would it be about?””
She looked at Emily.
“It was never about him.””
Everyone became silent.
Emily’s face changed.
Because she knew.
“What did you do?””
My mother smiled sadly.
“I tried to save you.””
Emily shook her head.
“No.””
My mother looked at me.
“I tried to save my son.””
I laughed.
“You destroyed my family.””
“I protected you from losing everything.””
“You made me lose everything!””
My voice echoed through the room.
Nobody spoke.
Then Robert opened the envelope.
“Show him.””
My mother’s expression changed.
“No.””
Robert removed a document.
“It’s time.””
I took it.
The paper was old.
A legal agreement.
My eyes moved across the page.
Then I saw the names.
Emily’s.
My mother’s.
And someone else.
My own father.
I looked up.
“My father?””
Robert nodded.
“This started before you were born.””
I felt dizzy.
“What started?””
Robert looked at Noah.
“A family business.””
I almost laughed.
“You’re telling me my son was hurt because of money?””
“No.””
Robert’s voice was serious.
“Because of control.””
He explained.
Years ago, my father built a company.
When he died, my mother expected to control everything.
But there was a condition.
The family trust would only remain protected if the next generation stayed united.
My father believed family was more important than wealth.
My mother believed wealth was more important than family.
“When Emily discovered the documents,” Robert said, “she found out Linda had been moving money illegally.””
I looked at my mother.
She didn’t deny it.
“You tried to expose her.””
Emily nodded.
“Yes.””
“And that’s why you disappeared.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“And you?””
She looked down.
My anger returned.
“How were you involved?””
Vanessa whispered:
“I was supposed to watch you.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
She started crying.
“I was told to get close to you.””
I stared.
“You married me because of them?””
“At first.””
The honesty hurt worse than a lie.
“At first?””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Then I actually loved you.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t know what was real anymore.””
A loud bang came from outside.
Noah jumped.
I immediately pulled him close.
Robert moved toward the back door.
“We need to leave.””
This time, I listened.
We moved quickly.
But before we reached the door, Mason stopped.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
He looked terrified.
“There’s something you need to know.””
“What?””
He swallowed.
“My mom didn’t just make videos of Noah.””
My heart sank.
“What else?””
“She made videos of you.””
I froze.
“Why?””
Mason looked at Vanessa.
“She was waiting for you to make a mistake.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Mason continued:
“And she wasn’t working alone.””
The room went silent.
“Who was she working with?””
Mason pulled out his phone.
“I found the messages.””
He opened one.
A name appeared.
A name that made Emily gasp.
May you like
Because it belonged to someone who had been helping us all night.
Robert.
