Chapter 13: The Woman Behind the Forgotten Name
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The words on the screen stayed there like a threat.
*The person who knows why your mother disappeared is already inside the mansion.*
My mother.
Alive.
Hidden.
The entire foundation of my life shifted beneath my feet.
I looked at Victor.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Victor didn’t argue.
He simply looked tired.
Like he had carried this secret for years and finally no longer had the strength to hold it.
“I don’t expect you to believe anything,” he said.
“Then prove it.””
Victor reached into his pocket and pulled out an old photograph.
He handed it to me.
It was the same picture from the file.
My mother stood beside a younger Richard.
And beside them was someone else.
My father.
But the date written on the back was impossible.
It was taken two years after everyone told me my mother had died.
My fingers went numb.
“This is fake.””
Victor shook his head.
“No.””
I stared at the photograph.
“My father lied to me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Victor looked toward the ceiling.
“Because your mother discovered what he and Richard had built.””
My stomach tightened.
“The company.””
“More than that.””
Victor opened another file.
Inside were documents.
Old documents.
Older than anything I had seen tonight.
“This family was built on control.””
He pointed at the papers.
“Your father created agreements that allowed certain family members to override decisions. He believed outsiders could never be trusted.””
I looked at him.
“And my mother?””
“She disagreed.””
Victor’s voice softened.
“She believed the company belonged to the people who worked for it, not the people who inherited it.””
That sounded exactly like the woman I remembered.
My mother was always the one who opened our home to employees during holidays.
The one who remembered everyone’s birthdays.
The one who told me money was only useful if it helped people.
“What happened?””
Victor hesitated.
“Your mother found proof that Richard and your father were hiding money.””
I looked at the papers.
“And they made her disappear.””
Victor didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
A sound came from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
Vanessa stood there.
But she wasn’t the same woman from earlier.
Her face was pale.
Her confidence was gone.
“I know where she is.””
The room froze.
I stepped toward her.
“You knew?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Yes.””
The anger inside me almost overwhelmed me.
“You knew my mother was alive?””
“I found out after Claire did.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because Grant threatened me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe you now?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“I don’t.””
That honesty surprised me.
Vanessa walked into the room.
“For months, I told myself I was only helping Grant because I had no choice.””
She looked at the monitor showing my daughters.
“But then I saw what we were doing to them.””
Her voice broke.
“And I realized I had become exactly like the people I was afraid of.””
I said nothing.
Because forgiveness was not something I could give.
Not yet.
“Where is my mother?””
Vanessa took a deep breath.
“She lives outside the city.””
“Why?””
“Because she was hiding from Grant.””
I stared at her.
“Grant knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why is he still here?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Because tonight was supposed to be the night he finished everything.””
My heart stopped.
“What does that mean?””
She looked toward the ballroom.
“He invited everyone here because he planned to announce changes to the company.””
“What changes?””
She whispered:
“Your removal.””
The words barely registered.
“He planned to take control.””
“Yes.””
“And my daughters?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“He planned to use them as proof that you were unstable.””
A sick feeling rose in my chest.
Everything.
Every lie.
Every cruel word.
Every night my daughters cried.
It was all part of a plan.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman’s voice spoke.
A voice I hadn’t heard in twenty years.
“Ethan?””
I stopped breathing.
“Mom?””
Silence.
Then a quiet sob.
“Yes.””
My knees nearly gave out.
“I’m sorry.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where are you?””
She whispered:
“I’m close.””
A pause.
“But you need to know something before I come.””
“What?””
Her voice trembled.
“Your father didn’t hide me because of the company.””
I held the phone tighter.
“Then why?””
May you like
The answer came softly.
“Because I knew who really killed Claire.””
