Chapter 6: The Woman Behind The Smile
After Claire left the room, my father locked the door.
That was when I knew things were worse than he admitted.
He never locked doors inside our house.
Not with me.
Not ever.
“Dad,” I said quietly.
He sat behind his desk.
“I made mistakes.””
I stared at him.
“Why did Mom trust her?””
My father looked down.
“She didn’t.””
The answer shocked me.
“What?””
“Your mother never trusted Claire.””
“Then why was she around?””
“Because I did.””
His voice became heavy.
“I thought Claire was helping us after your mother died. She was there when I was grieving. She helped with the house. She helped with you.””
I remembered those years.
How Claire arrived with flowers.
How she hugged me.
How she told everyone she wanted to be a mother figure.
“I thought she cared.””
My father shook his head.
“I was wrong.””
A knock came again.
This time it was Dylan.
“Dad?””
My father opened the door slightly.
“What?””
Dylan looked nervous.
“Can I talk to Ethan?””
I looked surprised.
Dylan and I weren’t close.
Not because of him.
Because Claire always made sure we stayed separate.
My father let him in.
Dylan closed the door.
“I heard Mom and Dad fighting.””
I looked at him.
“Did you know?””
He looked down.
“Not everything.””
That answer bothered me.
“What did you know?””
Dylan swallowed.
“I knew Mom treated you differently.””
I stared.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?””
His eyes filled with guilt.
“Because I was scared.””
“Of her?””
He nodded.
That surprised me.
“My mom isn’t the same person when adults are watching.””
The words sent a chill through me.
“What do you mean?””
Dylan looked toward the door.
“She tells us not to talk about family stuff.””
“Why?””
“Because she says people who ask questions create problems.””
I felt sick.
Even her own son was afraid.
That evening, my father gathered everyone in the living room.
Claire sat on the couch.
Calm.
Confident.
Like she had already planned every move.
“I want answers,” my father said.
She looked bored.
“About what?””
“The money.””
Claire sighed.
“Again?””
“Yes.””
She stood.
“You’re embarrassing yourself.””
“No. You’re avoiding the truth.””
She smiled.
“You want the truth?””
She reached into her purse.
Again.
Another envelope.
My father froze.
But this time, I noticed something.
He wasn’t afraid of the envelope.
He was afraid of what she would do with it.
“What is that?”” I asked.
Claire looked at me.
“Something your father should have shown you years ago.””
My father stepped forward.
“Claire.””
She opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Not a contract.
Not financial papers.
A handwritten letter.
My mother’s handwriting.
My breath caught.
“Where did you get that?””
Claire smiled.
“Your mother gave it to me.””
My father immediately said:
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
She held the letter up.
“Because this letter explains everything.””
My hands shook.
“Read it.””
My father looked at me.
“Ethan…”
“No.””
I stepped forward.
“I want to read it.””
Claire handed me the letter.
I unfolded it slowly.
The first line made my heart stop.
“Ethan, if you are reading this, it means Claire has finally shown you the truth…”
I looked up.
Claire’s confident expression disappeared.
May you like
Because whatever my mother had written next…
Was something Claire never expected me to see.
