Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew My Mother’s Secret
The drive to my aunt’s house felt longer than any car ride I had ever taken.
Dad barely spoke.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and every few minutes he checked the rearview mirror.
I noticed.
“Are we being followed?””
Dad looked surprised.
“Why would you ask that?””
“Because you keep looking behind us.””
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he sighed.
“I’m just being careful.””
That answer didn’t make me feel better.
When we arrived, I expected my aunt’s house to feel like a happy reunion.
It didn’t.
The small blue house at the end of the street looked abandoned.
The curtains were closed.
The yard was covered with fallen leaves.
Dad knocked.
A few seconds passed.
Then the door opened.
A woman stood there.
She looked older than Dad, with tired eyes and the same dark hair my mother had.
The moment she saw me, she covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Claire.””
My aunt looked at him.
“You brought him.””
Dad nodded.
“She needs to see him.””
Claire looked at me for a long moment.
Then tears filled her eyes.
“You look exactly like your mother.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Nobody had ever told me that before.
She opened the door.
“Come inside.””
The house smelled like old books and coffee.
On the walls were pictures.
And then I saw her.
My mother.
There were photographs everywhere.
My chest tightened.
I had almost forgotten what her laugh looked like.
Claire noticed me staring.
“She talked about you every day.””
I looked at her.
“Before she died?””
Claire nodded.
“She was scared.””
Dad became tense.
“Scared of what?””
Claire looked toward the windows.
“Vanessa.””
The name made the room colder.
Dad sat down.
“Tell us everything.””
Claire walked to a cabinet and pulled out a folder.
“I should have told you years ago.””
“Why didn’t you?””
She looked at me.
“Because your mother made me promise.””
Dad frowned.
“Promise what?””
“That Ethan would grow up without knowing any of this unless he was in danger.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Was I in danger?””
Claire didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
She opened the folder.
Inside were copies of documents.
Bank records.
Property papers.
Letters.
“Your mother’s father left her a trust,” Claire explained.
Dad nodded slowly.
“I knew about the inheritance.””
“No,” Claire said.
“You knew about the money.””
She placed another paper on the table.
“You didn’t know the condition.””
Dad picked it up.
His eyes moved quickly.
“What is this?””
Claire looked at me.
“When your mother passed away, everything transferred to Ethan.””
I stared.
“To me?””
She nodded.
“But the trust could not be accessed until you turned eighteen.””
Dad’s expression changed.
“So Vanessa wasn’t after money she could take now.””
“No,” Claire said.
“She was after control.””
I didn’t understand.
Claire continued.
“Vanessa found out about the inheritance before she married you.””
Dad went completely still.
“How?””
“Your mother discovered Vanessa was searching through private records.””
I looked at Dad.
“She married you because of me?””
Claire nodded sadly.
“She believed if she became part of the family, she could eventually control Ethan’s inheritance.””
My hands became cold.
All those years.
Every fake smile.
Every time she made me feel unwanted.
It wasn’t because I reminded her of my mother.
It was because I was standing between her and money.
Dad stood up.
“I need proof.””
Claire reached into the folder.
“I have some.””
She pulled out a printed email.
Dad read it.
His face changed.
“What is this?””
Claire whispered:
“The message Vanessa sent to someone before she married you.””
Dad looked closer.
Then his eyes widened.
“She knew about the trust.””
Claire nodded.
“And she mentioned Ethan.””
I looked at the paper.
I couldn’t read everything.
But I saw my name.
My name written in Vanessa’s message.
Then Dad’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
His face became serious.
“Where?””
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
“It’s the police.””
My heart jumped.
“What happened?””
Dad ended the call.
“They found Vanessa’s car.””
Claire stood up.
“Where?””
Dad looked toward the door.
“Near the old highway.””
Nobody moved.
May you like
Then Claire whispered:
“That’s where Daniel disappeared.””
