Chapter 9: The Truth Behind Sarah’s Death
Daniel waited.
I could feel his eyes on me.
The same eyes I had watched grow from a frightened child into a man.
But now those eyes were searching for something I had never wanted him to find.
The truth.
“Mom.””
I looked up.
“Tell me.””
I took a deep breath.
“Sarah died because she found out someone was stealing from Thomas.””
Michael became still.
Daniel looked at him.
“Stealing?””
I nodded.
“Thomas had discovered financial problems inside the company.””
Michael stepped forward.
“Sarah was going to expose them.””
“Who?””
I looked at Michael.
He knew.
Daniel knew he knew.
But he wanted me to say it.
So I did.
“Thomas’s business partner.””
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
I hesitated.
Then I whispered:
“Your father.””
The room went silent.
Michael’s face changed.
Daniel stared.
“Michael?””
I nodded.
“Thomas’s partner was Michael.””
Daniel looked at him.
The shock on his face was unbearable.
“No.””
Michael immediately shook his head.
“That’s not true.””
“You were there,” I said.
“I was trying to help.””
“You were trying to take control.””
Daniel looked between us.
“Someone explain.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the wedding guests moved around, completely unaware that our family was collapsing inside this room.
“Sarah discovered money was missing from the company accounts.””
Michael’s expression hardened.
“She was wrong.””
“No.””
I turned.
“She wasn’t.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You lied?””
Michael shook his head.
“Your mother has hated me for years.””
I almost smiled.
“Because I know what happened.””
He stepped closer.
“You know what you believe happened.””
The words stopped me.
Because there was one thing I had never been able to explain.
The night Sarah died.
I wasn’t there.
I found her afterward.
And that memory had haunted me ever since.
Daniel noticed my hesitation.
“Mom?””
I closed my eyes.
“There was another person there that night.””
Michael looked away.
Daniel saw.
“You know who?””
Nobody answered.
Then Michael said quietly:
“Yes.””
My heart dropped.
“Who?””
Michael looked at Daniel.
“Your biological mother.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
“Sarah wasn’t alone.””
Michael’s voice lowered.
“She called me before she died.””
I stepped forward.
“You never told me that.””
“Because she told me not to.””
“Why?””
Michael looked at the floor.
“Because she was afraid.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“Afraid of who?””
Michael didn’t answer.
That was when I knew.
He was still hiding something.
Daniel saw it too.
“You know more.””
Michael remained silent.
“Tell me.””
Still nothing.
Daniel’s voice rose.
“Tell me!””
Michael finally looked at him.
“Sarah was afraid of your grandfather.””
My breath stopped.
“My father?””
Daniel whispered.
Michael nodded.
“Thomas Collins wasn’t the man everyone thought he was.””
I felt dizzy.
“No.””
Michael looked at me.
“You never knew.””
I hated that he was right.
Because suddenly every piece of the puzzle felt different.
The missing money.
Sarah’s fear.
The hidden inheritance.
The letter.
Daniel stepped back.
“So everyone lied to me.””
Nobody spoke.
“My mother.””
He looked at me.
“My father.””
He looked at Michael.
“My bride.””
He looked toward the closed door.
“Who am I supposed to believe?””
I wanted to answer.
But I couldn’t.
Because sometimes the hardest truth is admitting that everyone around you has been carrying a piece of the lie.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
The sound cut through the room.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?””
I watched him.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
He slowly turned the phone around.
The caller ID was visible.
Unknown number.
But the voicemail notification underneath was what made everyone freeze.
*New message from: Sarah Collins.*
Daniel whispered:
“That’s impossible.””
Michael stepped forward.
“Don’t open it.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Why?””
Michael’s face went pale.
“Because Sarah has been dead for twenty years.””
Daniel pressed play.
A woman’s voice filled the room.
A voice none of us expected to hear.
A voice that sounded exactly like the woman in the photograph.
“Daniel…”
Everyone froze.
Then the recording continued:
“If you are hearing this, it means they found you.””
A pause.
A shaky breath.
May you like
Then Sarah whispered:
“Your mother is in danger.””
