Chapter 13: The Mother I Never Knew
For several seconds, I thought I had misunderstood her.
My mother.
The woman who died when I was young.
The woman I remembered as kind.
Gentle.
The woman who sang to me when storms shook the windows.
“No.””
The word came out before I could stop it.
Vanessa looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“I know what it sounds like.””
“It sounds impossible.””
“I know.””
Emily stepped beside me.
“Then explain.””
Vanessa looked toward Ethan.
The little boy was watching her carefully.
Like he was afraid of her.
That hurt more than anything.
“You lied to me for eighteen months,” I said.
Vanessa nodded.
“I did.””
“You helped trap my wife.””
“I did.””
Her honesty surprised me.
But then she continued.
“Because I was trying to protect Ethan.””
I looked at the boy.
“From who?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“From your mother’s family.””
I shook my head.
“My mother is dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
Vanessa walked toward the table and placed an old envelope down.
“I found this hidden inside the mansion years ago.””
I stared at it.
“Where?””
“In the same room where Emily was trapped.””
Emily looked shocked.
“The hidden room?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I was cleaning after your father died.””
She looked at me.
“I found documents.””
Detective Harris opened the envelope carefully.
Inside were old photographs.
Letters.
Medical records.
My hands became cold.
“What am I looking at?””
Vanessa whispered:
“The truth.””
She pointed to one photograph.
A woman stood beside my father.
But it wasn’t my mother.
It was Ethan’s mother.
“I thought your father had betrayed your mother.””
Vanessa continued.
“But then I found out the truth.””
She looked at Emily.
“Your mother knew.””
The room became silent.
“She knew about Ethan?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She knew about everything.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
Emily touched my arm.
“Michael.””
I shook my head.
“No. My mother would never…”
But my voice faded.
Because I remembered something.
A memory from childhood.
My father and mother arguing in the kitchen.
My mother crying.
My father saying:
“You can’t erase him.””
At the time, I thought they were talking about me.
Now I wasn’t sure.
Vanessa continued.
“Your mother believed Ethan would destroy your inheritance.””
I looked at Ethan.
A five-year-old child.
A child who had done nothing wrong.
“So she hid him?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She made arrangements.””
“Using Richard?””
“Yes.””
“Using Daniel?””
“Yes.””
Every answer felt heavier.
Emily looked at Vanessa.
“But why did you help?””
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“Because Ethan is my son.””
The room went quiet.
“I was young when I had him,” she continued.
“Your father tried to protect him, but your mother’s family had power. They threatened to take Ethan away.””
I stared at her.
“Then why marry into this family?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because your father asked me to.””
That shocked everyone.
“Your father knew he was running out of time.””
She looked at the letter.
“He told me if anything happened, I had to protect Ethan.””
Detective Harris frowned.
“But why hide Emily?””
Vanessa’s face broke.
“Because Daniel found out.””
Everyone turned.
“Daniel?””
She nodded.
“He discovered Ethan existed.””
Emily whispered:
“And he used it.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“Daniel threatened me. He said if I didn’t help him, he would expose Ethan and destroy his life.””
I looked toward Ethan.
“So you chose silence.””
Vanessa lowered her head.
“Yes.””
“And Emily paid the price.””
Her tears fell.
“Yes.””
Nobody spoke.
Because there was no excuse.
Only consequences.
Then Detective Harris’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then he looked at me.
“Daniel was found.””
My heart tightened.
“Where?””
The detective hesitated.
“He turned himself in.””
That surprised me.
“Why?””
Detective Harris looked at the evidence in front of him.
“He said he wants to confess.””
Emily looked uneasy.
“People like Daniel don’t confess.””
The detective nodded.
“Normally, I’d agree.””
“Then why now?””
He looked at me.
“Because he brought someone with him.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
May you like
The detective’s voice became quiet.
“Your mother.””
