Chapter 9: The Woman Behind the War
For years, I thought Patricia hated me because I wasn’t good enough.
Not pretty enough.
Not quiet enough.
Not obedient enough.
I never imagined the truth was darker.
She hated me because I reminded her of a war she started.
Daniel sat down slowly.
“My mother changed the records.””
I stared at him.
“What records?””
“The company records.””
I looked at the old newspaper clipping.
“You’re saying your mother framed my father?””
Daniel nodded.
“My father found out.””
“Then why didn’t he tell anyone?””
“Because Patricia threatened him.””
I felt sick.
“She threatened her own husband?””
Daniel looked at me.
“You don’t know my mother.””
I almost smiled.
“Neither did you.””
The words hurt him.
Good.
They were supposed to.
I walked around the office, looking at the shelves.
All those files.
All those secrets.
Patricia wasn’t protecting her family.
She was controlling them.
“What happened to the company?””
Daniel looked down.
“My father took the blame.””
“And my father?””
“Lost everything.””
I remembered my childhood.
The small apartment.
My mother working two jobs.
My father always saying things would get better.
I had spent years thinking we were unlucky.
I never knew someone caused it.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
“Because Patricia made sure nobody did.””
I turned.
“And you?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“I found out two years into our marriage.””
My chest tightened.
“Two years?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“You knew for five years?””
He nodded.
Every answer made it worse.
“Why?””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That if I told you, you would leave.””
I laughed quietly.
“You were right.””
Daniel looked like he wanted to say something.
Then the office lights suddenly went off.
We both froze.
“What happened?””
Daniel stood.
“The power.””
A sound came from the hallway.
A drawer opening.
Someone was inside.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Stay here.””
I pulled away.
“No.””
The old Emily would have stayed.
The old Emily trusted him.
That woman was gone.
We stepped into the hallway together.
The front door was open.
Cold air rushed inside.
And on the floor was a folder.
My folder.
The one with my name on it.
Daniel picked it up.
Inside was a note.
He read it first.
His face changed.
“What does it say?””
He handed it to me.
Only four words.
*“Ask your mother.””*
I looked at Daniel.
“My mother?””
He nodded slowly.
“I thought your mother passed away.””
“She did.””
“Emily…”
His voice was careful.
“Then why does Patricia have a file about her?””
I opened the folder.
The first page was a photograph.
A photograph of my mother.
Standing beside Patricia.
But that wasn’t what shocked me.
It was the date.
The picture was taken only weeks before my mother died.
I dropped the photo.
Because suddenly, the biggest secret wasn’t about Daniel.
It wasn’t about Patricia.
It was about my own family.
And I realized something terrifying.
May you like
The woman who spent years trying to destroy my marriage…
might have known my mother better than I did.
