Chapter 6: The Secret Patricia Buried
Claire and I left the café through the back entrance.
I hated that I was scared.
Not of Patricia.
Not anymore.
I was scared because I finally understood something.
People who spend years controlling others don’t give up easily.
They fight harder when they feel exposed.
We sat in my car two blocks away.
Claire kept looking at the mirrors.
“She knows where we are,” I said.
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
“Then how did she know?””
Claire didn’t answer.
I already knew.
“She has been watching you.””
Claire looked down.
“Yes.””
The word made my stomach twist.
“How long?””
“Since before your wedding.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
Claire took a deep breath.
“Because Patricia was afraid you would find out.””
“Find out what?””
She reached into her bag again.
This time, she pulled out a small envelope.
“I took this from her office.””
I stared at it.
“You stole it?””
“I borrowed it.””
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
“Claire.””
She looked at me.
“I worked for that woman for six years. I saw things I shouldn’t have seen.””
She handed me the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
An old one.
I unfolded it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
The first line made my entire body freeze.
*Dear Daniel,*
*I know what your mother did.*
I read faster.
The letter was from Vanessa.
She wrote about Patricia interfering in their relationship.
About lies.
About conversations that were secretly recorded.
About money being offered to make her disappear.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
*“Daniel, if you choose your mother over the truth, I will know I was never important to you.””*
I lowered the letter.
“Did he know?””
Claire looked away.
“At first, no.””
“And later?””
She was silent.
“Claire.””
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“Daniel knew.””
She nodded.
“He found out after Vanessa left.””
The betrayal felt endless.
“He knew his mother destroyed his relationship?””
“Yes.””
“And he stayed?””
Claire whispered:
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
For years, I had defended Daniel.
I had told friends he was loyal.
Kind.
Different from his family.
I had been wrong.
My phone suddenly rang.
Daniel.
I stared at his name.
Claire looked at me.
“You should answer.””
“Why?””
“Because now you know what questions to ask.””
I accepted the call.
“Hello?””
“Emily.””
His voice sounded tired.
“I know you talked to Claire.””
“Yes.””
A long silence.
Then:
“She’s lying.””
I looked at Claire.
“No, Daniel.””
My voice was calm.
“That’s the first thing you always do.””
“What?””
“You don’t explain. You attack the person telling the truth.””
He breathed heavily.
“Emily, please come home. We can fix this.””
I laughed quietly.
“Fix this?””
“Yes.””
“You can’t fix something you never respected.””
His voice hardened.
“You’re making a mistake.””
There it was.
The old Daniel.
The one who believed he knew better.
“No,” I said.
“I’m finally making a decision.””
Before he could respond, another voice came through the phone.
Patricia.
“She will come back.””
I froze.
“Are you with your mother?””
Silence.
Then Daniel said:
“Emily—”
I hung up.
A minute later, my phone buzzed.
A text from Daniel.
Attached was a photo.
My house.
My bedroom.
My belongings packed into boxes.
Underneath was a message.
*“You wanted to leave. So I helped you.””*
I stared at the photo.
Then Claire whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“Emily…”
“What?””
“That wasn’t Daniel’s decision.””
I looked at her.
“How do you know?””
She pointed at the corner of the photo.
A small detail I hadn’t noticed.
On one of the boxes was a handwritten label.
Not Daniel’s handwriting.
Patricia’s.
May you like
And the label said:
*“Evidence.””*
