Chapter 13: The Truth Buried With My Name
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Richard’s words hung in the room like smoke.
Because I couldn’t understand them.
Fake my death.
Those three words didn’t belong in my life.
Not in my memories.
Not in reality.
Not with my son standing ten feet away, terrified.
I looked at Richard.
“You’re lying.””
He didn’t react.
“I wish I was.””
Noah’s eyes filled with tears.
“Mom…”
I looked at him.
“Are you okay?””
He nodded quickly.
But I saw the fear in his face.
Not fear of Richard.
Fear of what I was about to learn.
Ellis stepped forward.
“Let him go.””
Richard smiled.
“You still think you have authority here?””
“I’m his father.””
Richard’s expression turned cold.
“And I’m the reason you became his father.””
The words hit everyone.
Even Ellis.
I looked between them.
“What does that mean?””
Richard sighed.
“Fifteen years ago, your family’s company was being destroyed from the inside.””
He placed a hand on the table.
“Your father discovered the person responsible.””
“Who?””
Richard looked at me.
“You.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Noah shook his head.
“No.””
Richard continued.
“You weren’t stealing from the company. But someone was using your name.””
I felt dizzy.
“My name?””
“Yes.””
He opened the letter from my father.
“Your father discovered someone had created false documents, moved money, and signed agreements using your identity.””
I stared at the papers.
The same papers with my signature.
The same signature I never remembered making.
“But who?””
Richard looked at Ellis.
And Ellis looked away.
My chest tightened.
“No.””
Ellis whispered:
“Sabrina…”
I backed away.
“No.””
Richard continued.
“Ellis found out before you did.””
I looked at my ex-husband.
“You knew.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your father asked me not to.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying they were protecting me.””
My voice cracked.
“But nobody ever asked what I wanted.””
Ellis looked destroyed.
“You’re right.””
That answer surprised me.
“I should have told you.””
“Why didn’t you?””
“Because after the accident, you looked at me and begged me to make everything stop.””
My memories flashed.
A hospital room.
My hands shaking.
My father gone.
My life destroyed.
A voice saying:
You can’t carry this anymore.
I closed my eyes.
“I really asked you?””
Ellis nodded.
“You said you wanted a different life.””
Richard stepped closer.
“And that’s when I helped create one.””
I looked at him.
“You helped erase me.””
“Yes.””
The honesty made it worse.
“Why?””
“Because the people hunting your family weren’t going to stop.””
He looked at Noah.
“They would have come after him too.””
My son looked down.
Richard continued.
“So we created a new identity. A normal life. A quiet life.””
I stared at Ellis.
“And you married me knowing who I was.””
“Yes.””
“You built a family with me knowing I had forgotten everything.””
“Yes.””
The pain was unbearable.
Even if the reason was protection, the choice was still taken from me.
I turned to Noah.
“Did you know?””
His face broke.
“No.””
“Then why did you investigate?””
He swallowed.
“Because I found Grandpa’s files.””
“Why?””
“Because Dad kept lying.””
Ellis closed his eyes.
Noah continued.
“I saw him meeting people. Moving money. Talking about Mom like she was a problem he needed to solve.””
My heart broke.
“Noah…”
“I didn’t want to lose you.””
The room went quiet.
“I knew if I chose Mom in court, Dad would know I found out.””
I covered my mouth.
“So you said those things…”
He nodded.
“I thought if Dad believed I hated you, he wouldn’t hurt you.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“My son…”
“I’m sorry.””
I ran to him.
Richard didn’t stop me.
I pulled Noah into my arms.
And for the first time since the courthouse, I felt like I had my child back.
“I thought you left me.””
He cried against my shoulder.
“I was trying to save you.””
Then a sound interrupted us.
A phone ringing.
Richard answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
Silence.
Then:
“No.””
He looked at me.
And I knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
Richard lowered the phone.
“The files were copied.””
“By who?””
He didn’t answer.
Ellis looked toward the hallway.
Because someone was standing there.
Someone we didn’t hear enter.
Victor.
But he wasn’t alone.
He had a folder in his hand.
And he said:
“You finally found the truth.””
May you like
He looked at me.
“Now I’ll tell you the part Richard left out.””
