Chapter 10: The Secret My Mother Carried
I stared at Garrett’s message for almost five minutes.
Three words.
That was all it took to destroy the certainty I had finally started rebuilding.
*Ask your mother.*
I hated that it worked.
I hated that some small part of me immediately wondered if there was something I didn’t know.
Because Garrett understood people.
He knew exactly where to place a doubt.
Exactly where to create a crack.
And he knew the person I trusted most was my mother.
I walked into the kitchen where Miriam was making tea.
The ordinary scene felt strange.
A warm light above the counter.
The sound of boiling water.
The woman who had spent my entire life protecting me.
How could someone like Garrett use that?
“Mom.””
She turned.
One look at my face, and she knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
I placed my phone on the table.
She read the message.
And the color disappeared from her face.
That reaction hurt more than the words.
Because it meant something.
“You know what he’s talking about.””
My mother sat down slowly.
“Alessia…”
“Tell me.””
She looked away.
“Please.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“But I need the truth.””
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“Your father’s company did not disappear because of bad investments.””
I already knew that.
But hearing her say it made it real.
“What happened?””
She wrapped her hands around the tea cup.
“Your father trusted the wrong people.””
“Garrett?””
She nodded.
My heart sank.
“How?””
“Your father knew Garrett before you did.””
I froze.
“What?””
My mother looked at me.
“He was introduced to him through a business meeting.””
“When?””
“Months before your first date.””
The room felt smaller.
“So Garrett knew him.””
“Yes.””
“And he knew me.””
“Yes.””
The answer was so quiet.
But it destroyed something inside me.
I stood up.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I tried.””
“You never told me Garrett was connected to my father.””
“I tried to warn you without destroying your happiness.””
I stared at her.
“Mom, that wasn’t your choice to make.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I know.””
The honesty stopped me.
She wasn’t defending herself.
She was admitting she was wrong.
“What happened the night Dad disappeared?””
My mother looked down.
And I saw the fear.
The same fear she had shown when she first saw Garrett’s true face.
“I found out Garrett was involved.””
“Involved how?””
“I don’t know everything.””
“Mom.””
“I’m serious.””
She wiped her eyes.
“Your father discovered that money was being moved through companies connected to Garrett’s investors. He was going to expose them.””
“And then?””
“Then your father vanished.””
The silence afterward felt unbearable.
“Did Garrett know?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because I told him I knew.””
I stepped back.
“You talked to him?””
“After your father disappeared.””
My voice became quieter.
“Why?””
“Because I thought I could force him to tell me the truth.””
“And?””
My mother looked at me.
“He threatened you.””
Everything stopped.
“What?””
“He told me if I went to the police, if I spoke publicly, your life would become difficult.””
My hands trembled.
“He threatened me?””
“Yes.””
“And you stayed silent?””
Her tears fell.
“I was scared.””
I looked at the woman who had never been afraid of anything.
The woman who fought through poverty.
The woman who raised me alone.
And Garrett had managed to frighten her.
Not for herself.
For me.
I sat down.
My anger disappeared.
Not completely.
But enough to understand.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“You should have trusted me.””
“I know.””
We sat there quietly.
Then my mother reached for my hand.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
I squeezed her fingers.
“I know.””
The next morning, Claire arrived with a new plan.
She listened as we explained everything.
Then she said:
“Garrett made one mistake.””
“What?””
“He assumed fear would keep everyone silent.””
Claire placed several documents on the table.
“But fear has an expiration date.””
I looked at the papers.
“What are these?””
“Evidence from a former employee of Garrett’s company.””
“Who?””
Claire looked at me.
“Someone who worked directly with him.””
“Will they testify?””
She nodded.
“They already agreed.””
“Why?””
Claire hesitated.
“Because they know what Garrett did.””
Before I could ask more, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice spoke.
“Alessia Marin?””
“Yes?””
“My name is Daniel Cross.””
I looked at Claire.
She recognized the name immediately.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get my number?””
“I worked for Garrett for six years.””
My grip tightened.
“Why are you calling me?””
There was a pause.
Then he said:
May you like
“Because I was the person who helped him destroy your father.””
My blood turned cold.
