Chapter 14: The Truth Patricia Buried
Daniel read the letter three times.
He didn’t speak.
He just stared.
Like every memory from his childhood had suddenly become uncertain.
I sat beside him.
Not touching him.
Not yet.
Because I knew this was something he needed to process himself.
Finally, he whispered:
“My father knew.””
I looked at him.
“Knew what?””
He turned the phone toward me.
The letter explained everything.
Daniel’s father had discovered that Patricia had been secretly moving money from family accounts.
Not enough to immediately notice.
Small amounts.
Repeated over years.
He had planned to confront her.
But before he could, he died.
The letter said he wanted Daniel to know the truth if anything happened.
Patricia had hidden the letter.
And she had controlled the story ever since.
“She stole from him,” Daniel whispered.
Victor nodded.
“That’s why she wanted the house.””
Rachel looked at the papers.
“She needed control of the assets before anyone investigated.””
Everything finally made sense.
The fake documents.
The accusations.
The attack.
Patricia wasn’t trying to protect Daniel.
She was protecting herself.
Daniel stood suddenly.
“I need to talk to her.””
I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t go alone.””
He looked at me.
“I need to hear her admit it.””
Victor shook his head.
“Someone like Patricia won’t admit anything unless she has no way out.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Then we make sure she has no way out.””
The next morning, we arranged to meet Patricia.
Not at home.
Not somewhere private.
A public place.
A quiet café.
When Patricia arrived, she looked confident.
Almost amused.
“I knew you would come.””
Daniel placed the letter on the table.
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You found it.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You hid this.””
She looked at the letter.
Then smiled.
“I protected you.””
“No.””
His voice was firm.
“You protected yourself.””
Patricia’s eyes filled with anger.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed for you.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You made me dependent on you.””
“I was your mother.””
“And I was your son.””
The words hit harder than any accusation.
Patricia looked at me.
“This is what you wanted.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
I looked directly at her.
“I wanted my husband to believe me.””
She laughed.
“You think this changes everything?””
Daniel frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Patricia leaned forward.
“You still don’t know the biggest secret.””
My stomach tightened.
“What secret?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Ask your wife why she never told you she met your father before she met you.””
The world stopped.
Daniel slowly turned toward me.
“What?””
I froze.
Because this was the one thing I had never told him.
Not because it was wrong.
But because I never thought it mattered.
“Emma?””
I swallowed.
“I met your father once.””
Daniel stared.
“When?””
“Before we dated.””
His expression changed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because it was just one conversation.””
Patricia smiled.
“Convenient.””
I looked at her.
“You’re twisting it.””
Daniel’s voice was quiet.
“What happened?””
I looked at him.
“I worked at a charity event. Your father was there. He talked to me for ten minutes.””
“About what?””
I hesitated.
“He told me to be careful around your mother.””
Daniel froze.
Patricia’s face changed.
Because that was the one thing she never expected me to say.
“What exactly did he tell you?”” Daniel asked.
I looked at Patricia.
Then answered:
“He told me your mother was dangerous.””
The café went silent.
Patricia stood suddenly.
“You’re lying.””
But nobody believed her anymore.
Then Victor’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then looked at us.
“We need to leave.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why?””
Victor lowered the phone.
“Because Patricia just reported Emma to the police.””
My blood went cold.
“For what?””
Victor looked at me.
May you like
“For attacking her.””
Again.
