Chapter 10: The Woman My Father Hid
I couldn’t move.
For several seconds, nobody in the room spoke.
My father’s first wife.
The words didn’t make sense.
Not because I didn’t understand them.
Because I couldn’t accept them.
My entire life, I had believed my family history was simple.
My father.
My mother.
Me.
One company.
One legacy.
One future.
But now there was a missing chapter.
A chapter everyone had hidden from me.
“Who is she?”” I asked.
Rachel looked at the photograph again.
“Her name is Evelyn Vale.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Vale?””
She nodded.
“Richard’s sister.””
The room became silent.
Richard’s sister.
My father’s first wife.
The woman connected to the company.
The woman who somehow appeared in every secret we uncovered.
I looked at Claire.
“Did you know?””
She shook her head immediately.
“No.””
“What about Marcus?””
Marcus looked away.
“I knew there was someone else involved.””
“But not who?””
“No.””
I turned toward him.
“For years, you knew something was wrong.””
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.””
“And you still punished my son.””
The guilt on his face was obvious.
“I know.””
“No. You don’t.””
My voice became louder.
“You don’t know what it feels like to watch your child grow up believing you abandoned him.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“I know I can’t undo that.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You can’t.””
The room fell quiet.
Then Marcus said something I didn’t expect.
“But I can tell you why.””
I stared at him.
“Then tell me.””
He took a long breath.
“When Richard came to me after your father died, he told me someone was trying to access Ethan’s trust.””
“Evelyn?””
He nodded.
“But not because she wanted the money.””
“Then why?””
Marcus looked at the folder.
“Because Ethan’s trust contained proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That your father didn’t die naturally.””
The words hit me like a wave.
I felt the room spin.
“What?””
Claire covered her mouth.
Rachel immediately looked at Marcus.
“Are you saying Daniel’s father was murdered?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I’m saying Richard believed he was.””
I stared.
“Believed?””
“He didn’t have enough evidence.””
I remembered my father’s death.
The hospital.
The phone call.
The doctors saying it was sudden.
I had never questioned it.
Why would I?
My father was healthy.
Strong.
The kind of man who planned ten years ahead.
“You’re telling me everyone knew except me?””
Marcus looked ashamed.
“Your father wanted it that way.””
I felt anger rising.
“Why?””
“Because you were his weakness.””
I froze.
Marcus continued.
“He knew if you found out, you would go after the truth without thinking about the consequences.””
“That sounds like my father.””
Marcus nodded.
“He wanted you safe.””
I looked at the photograph again.
My father.
Evelyn.
Richard.
Three people connected by secrets.
And somehow, Ethan had become the center of it.
Rachel opened the folder.
“There’s something else.””
She pulled out another document.
A handwritten letter.
“This was found with the photograph.””
I took it.
The handwriting was my father’s.
“Daniel,
If you are reading this, then the truth has already started coming out.””
My hands shook.
“I wanted to tell you everything, but protecting you meant keeping you away from the fight.””
I swallowed.
“Evelyn was not the enemy when we met. She became one after she believed I betrayed her.””
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
I kept reading.
“She believed Ethan’s existence threatened her own child’s future.””
I stopped.
“My father had another child?””
Rachel looked shocked.
Marcus whispered:
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
Before he could answer, my phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
But this time, there was a photo attached.
I opened it.
My heart stopped.
It was Ethan.
Standing outside the mansion.
With Evelyn.
The message underneath said:
“Your father chose Ethan over my son.””
May you like
Another message appeared.
“Now you will understand why.””
