Chapter 8: The Evidence Hidden for Twenty Years
Nobody understood what Linda meant.
Including me.
“Evidence of what?”” Michael asked.
Linda didn’t answer.
That was the problem.
She never answered.
She only created more questions.
Rachel sat down slowly.
“I think it’s time Michael knows.””
Linda looked at her sharply.
“No.””
Rachel shook her head.
“You’ve controlled this story for twenty years.””
Michael stared at both women.
“What story?””
Rachel looked at him.
“The truth about your father’s death.””
The room became completely silent.
I looked at Michael.
His face changed instantly.
“My father died of a heart condition.””
Rachel looked down.
“That’s what you were told.””
Michael stood.
“What are you saying?””
Linda’s voice became louder.
“Rachel, stop.””
“No.””
Rachel looked at Michael.
“Your father was investigating missing money from the family company.””
Michael looked shocked.
“He thought someone was stealing?””
Rachel nodded.
“He found proof.””
I felt a chill.
“And?””
Rachel looked at Linda.
“He was going to expose it.””
Michael turned slowly toward his mother.
“No.””
Linda shook her head.
“Don’t listen to her.””
“Mom.””
His voice cracked.
“Did Dad know something?””
Linda didn’t answer.
And that silence said more than words.
Michael stepped back.
“I can’t believe this.””
I watched him struggle.
The man who had doubted me yesterday was now standing in the middle of a truth that was breaking his entire world.
Rachel opened the folder again.
“Your father left instructions.””
“What instructions?””
She pulled out a small envelope.
It looked old.
Worn.
Like it had been hidden away for years.
“He said this should only be opened if Linda ever tried to take control of everything.””
My heart started racing.
Linda’s expression changed.
“No.””
Michael looked at her.
“You knew about this?””
She took a step back.
“I…”
“You knew?””
Linda’s eyes filled with anger.
“You don’t understand.””
Michael laughed bitterly.
“I understand enough.””
Rachel handed him the envelope.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
He read silently.
Then his hands started shaking.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
Michael looked at me.
His eyes were full of pain.
“It says my father knew he was being watched.””
Everyone froze.
Rachel closed her eyes.
“He knew someone wanted the evidence.””
Michael continued reading.
Then suddenly stopped.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
He looked at the bottom of the page.
“There’s another name.””
“Whose?””
He turned the letter around.
I saw the handwriting.
And below the message was a name.
A name that made Linda lose all color from her face.
*Sarah’s mother.*
I looked at Michael.
“My mother?””
Rachel nodded slowly.
“Your mother was involved.””
My heart dropped.
“No.””
Linda immediately spoke.
“That’s impossible.””
But nobody believed her.
Not anymore.
Michael looked between me and the letter.
“Why would your mother be connected to my father?””
I had no answer.
Because I had spent my entire life believing my mother was just an ordinary woman.
A woman who worked hard.
A woman who died leaving me nothing but memories.
But now…
A dead woman from my past was connected to a family secret worth destroying lives over.
Then Michael noticed something else inside the envelope.
A small photograph.
He pulled it out.
And when he turned it over…
My entire body went cold.
Because written on the back were six words.
May you like
Words that changed everything.
*Protect Sarah. She is the key.*
