Chapter 4: The Secret About My Mother's Death
"Please don't let your sister tell you about your mother.""
Marcus's words hung in the kitchen.
I stared at him, still holding my phone.
"What did you just say?""
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"Lauren, you're exhausted. You've had a terrible evening. We need to talk about this when you're thinking clearly.""
"Stop telling me how I'm thinking. What happened the night my mother died?""
Marcus looked toward Daniel.
"This is between my wife and me.""
Daniel crossed his arms.
"Funny. You didn't seem concerned about privacy when you were transferring her money to your mistress.""
Marcus ignored him.
I stepped closer.
"Answer me.""
He swallowed.
"Your mother was sick. You know that.""
"She had a stroke.""
"Yes.""
"She died in the hospital.""
"That's right.""
"Then why are you afraid of Emily telling me something?""
Marcus looked down.
And that was when I knew.
There was something.
Something he had spent years making sure I never discovered.
My phone rang.
Emily.
I answered and put it on speaker.
"Lauren!"" she said breathlessly.
"Where are you?""
"At home. With Marcus and Daniel.""
There was a long silence.
Then Emily whispered, "You shouldn't have invited Daniel.""
I felt my fingers tighten around the phone.
"How did you know I invited him?""
Another silence.
"Marcus told me.""
I looked at my husband.
He didn't move.
"Emily, I want to know what happened to Mom.""
"Lauren, please. Not over the phone.""
"Then come here.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently, nobody in this family thinks I understand anything.""
Emily's voice cracked.
"Just promise me you won't sign anything. And don't let Marcus take you to the hospital tomorrow.""
I glanced at Daniel.
"Why would you tell me that?""
"Because tomorrow morning was never supposed to happen this way.""
The call ended.
I stood frozen.
Daniel gently took the phone from my hand and placed it on the counter.
"Lauren, I think we need to get you somewhere safe.""
Marcus shook his head.
"This is ridiculous.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Then explain the medical procedure.""
Marcus remained silent.
Daniel took out his phone.
"I have a recording from a conversation between Vanessa and Dr. Collins. It was made legally by a licensed investigator.""
Vanessa suddenly looked up.
"What recording?""
Daniel pressed play.
A man's voice filled the kitchen.
Dr. Collins.
"Once the evaluation is complete, the family can proceed with the guardianship petition.""
Then Vanessa's voice.
"And the insurance?""
"That arrangement is separate. Your friend needs to maintain the medication schedule until the procedure.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Marcus lunged toward the phone.
Daniel stepped back.
The recording continued.
Then Dr. Collins said something that made the entire room go silent.
"Her mother's medical history makes the diagnosis easier to justify. Nobody questions a hereditary neurological condition.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Her mother's?""
He closed his eyes.
The recording ended.
Daniel put his phone away.
I could hear the refrigerator humming.
The clock ticking.
My own breathing.
"Marcus," I whispered, "did you use my mother's death to make me look sick?""
He finally looked at me.
"I didn't have a choice.""
"There's always a choice.""
"You don't understand what your mother left behind.""
I stared at him.
"She left me this house.""
"No. She left you more than that.""
His words made my stomach tighten.
Daniel looked sharply at him.
"What are you talking about?""
Marcus seemed to realize he'd said too much.
"Nothing.""
I stepped forward.
"Tell me.""
He shook his head.
"Ask Emily.""
I almost slapped him.
Instead, I picked up my purse.
"I'm leaving.""
Marcus grabbed the kitchen counter.
"Lauren, don't do this.""
I looked at his hand.
"Take your hand off my counter.""
"You're my wife.""
"Not anymore.""
Daniel escorted me toward the front door.
Behind us, Vanessa started crying again.
Marcus shouted my name.
I didn't turn around.
But as Daniel opened the door, my phone vibrated one more time.
A message from Emily.
It contained a photograph of an old handwritten letter.
The message beneath it read:
*Mom left this for you. Marcus has been looking for it for eight years.*
I opened the photograph.
The handwriting was unmistakably my mother's.
May you like
And the first sentence made my entire world stop.
*My darling Lauren, if you're reading this, it means someone has finally started looking into what happened to me.*
