Chapter 10: The Truth About My Name
I read my father’s letter three times.
Not because I didn’t understand the words.
Because I couldn’t accept them.
“If they try to steal everything from Emily, she must know the truth about her birth.””
My hands shook.
My birth.
Those words belonged to a different kind of story.
A story about identity.
Family.
Secrets.
Not betrayal.
Not fraud.
Not my husband and mother-in-law trying to destroy my life.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What does this mean?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
That frightened me.
“Vanessa.””
She swallowed.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me what you do know.””
She looked at the letter.
“Your father discovered that someone changed records when you were born.””
I stared at her.
“What records?””
“Your inheritance records.””
The room became silent.
“My inheritance?””
She nodded.
“Your father built his company before you were born. He created a trust for you. But someone altered the documents years later.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Your mother-in-law.””
I stepped backward.
“No.””
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
My voice became louder.
“You’re saying Linda changed my family’s legal documents?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She worked with Richard.””
I walked toward the window.
Everything I thought I knew about my family was collapsing.
Daniel.
Linda.
Richard.
Even my father’s death.
Nothing was simple anymore.
Then I noticed something.
“Why are you helping me?””
Vanessa looked surprised.
I turned around.
“Don’t pretend this is only about doing the right thing.””
She looked away.
“I made mistakes.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She took a deep breath.
“Because Richard is going to kill me.””
The words hung in the air.
I froze.
“What?””
“He knows I have evidence.””
I stared at her.
“Why not go to the police?””
“Because Richard controls people.””
“That’s impossible.””
She gave a sad smile.
“Emily, your father thought the same thing.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Detective Harris.
I answered immediately.
“Detective?””
His voice was urgent.
“Emily, where are you?””
“At home.””
“You need to leave.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“We found a connection between Richard and your mother-in-law.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“What connection?””
A pause.
Then:
“Linda wasn’t just involved in the fraud.””
I waited.
“She signed documents connected to your father’s accident.””
The room went silent.
My fingers went cold.
“Are you sure?””
“We found her signature.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked terrified.
Then another sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
I walked toward the window.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
The engine was running.
“Detective…”
“What?””
“Someone is outside my house.””
“Do not go near the window.””
But I already knew.
Someone was watching me.
The question was who.
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
“Your father should have kept quiet.””
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
“Now you will too.””
