Chapter 13: The Driver Who Changed Everything
The words followed me all the way back.
*Someone who shares your blood.*
I kept hearing them.
Over and over.
By the time I reached the old Bennett estate, my hands were shaking.
Not from fear.
From exhaustion.
Everyone had lied to me.
Brooke.
Chad.
My father.
Even Isabella.
But this was different.
If the driver was someone from my family, then the truth I had been chasing wasn’t just hidden.
It had been buried.
Daniel stood outside when I arrived.
His face told me everything.
“You found it.””
I stepped out of the car.
“The report?””
He nodded.
“Inside.””
I walked past him without speaking.
The old house felt different now.
It wasn’t my childhood home anymore.
It was a place full of ghosts.
Secrets.
And answers I wasn’t sure I wanted.
The original accident report sat on the table.
Not a copy.
Not a modified version.
The real one.
I opened it.
The first page showed the details everyone knew.
Location.
Time.
Vehicle damage.
Then I reached the driver information.
And stopped.
My eyes moved across the page.
I read the name.
Then I read it again.
“No.””
Daniel said nothing.
Because he knew.
The name printed there was:
*Richard Bennett.*
My father.
I stepped back.
The room spun.
“No.””
My father appeared in the doorway.
He looked at the paper.
Then at me.
“I can explain.””
I laughed.
A painful, empty sound.
“Of course you can.””
“Ethan.””
“No.””
I held up the report.
“You were driving.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The answer destroyed something inside me.
Not because he admitted it.
Because he had spent six months watching me search for the truth.
Watching me blame everyone else.
Watching me suffer.
“You told me the accident was random.””
“I was protecting you.””
“You caused it.””
“No.””
His voice broke.
“I didn’t cause it.””
“Then why is your name here?””
My father stepped forward.
“Because I was there.””
The room went silent.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at the report.
“The report is incomplete.””
Daniel frowned.
“Incomplete?””
My father nodded.
“The crash happened after someone tampered with my vehicle.””
I stared.
“Someone?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
My father looked toward the hallway.
And for the first time, he looked afraid.
“Your mother.””
I froze.
Again.
That name.
The person everyone kept bringing up.
The person who couldn’t defend herself.
“You’re saying my mother sabotaged the car?””
“No.””
My father shook his head.
“She discovered someone else had.””
I waited.
“She found evidence that Victor was planning to frame me.””
“So what happened?””
My father sat down.
His hands trembled.
“Your mother called me that night. She told me she had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That Victor had arranged everything.””
My chest tightened.
“She asked me to meet her.””
Daniel looked confused.
“But the accident happened on the way.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“Then why did everyone think she died?””
My father looked at the floor.
“Because she didn’t.””
The room became silent.
“What?””
My father looked at me.
“Your mother survived the first accident.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you saying?””
“She was alive.””
I couldn’t move.
“She survived?””
“Yes.””
“Then where is she?””
My father’s eyes filled with pain.
“I don’t know.””
Nobody spoke.
A thousand questions crashed through my mind.
All my memories.
All the years believing she was gone.
All the grief.
All the unanswered questions.
A sound came from behind us.
Everyone turned.
Brooke stood in the doorway.
Her face was pale.
“I know where she is.””
The room froze.
I stared at her.
“What did you say?””
She stepped inside slowly.
“I know where your mother is.””
My father stood.
“How?””
Brooke looked at him.
“Because my mother kept her hidden.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
“Where?””
Brooke looked at me.
“Ethan…”
“Where?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She’s alive.””
My breath stopped.
“Where is she?””
May you like
Brooke whispered:
“She’s been living under another name for twelve years.””
