Chapter 6: The Evidence My Mother Left Behind
Natalie stood on our porch like she had been waiting years for this moment.
She held a worn leather folder against her chest.
My father appeared behind me.
The second he saw her, he stopped.
“Why are you here?””
Natalie looked at him.
“Because Emily finally found the dress.””
Nobody spoke.
I felt a chill move through me.
She knew.
She knew about the dress.
“How?””
Natalie looked at me.
“Because your mother told me this day would come.””
My eyes burned.
“She knew?””
Natalie nodded.
“Your mother knew people would try to erase the truth.””
She stepped inside slowly.
Claire stood.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Natalie looked at her.
“You’re right.””
Her voice was calm.
“I should have come years ago.””
The guilt in that sentence was heavy.
I looked at the folder.
“What’s inside?””
Natalie held it tighter.
“Everything your mother wanted you to know.””
My father stepped forward.
“Emily doesn’t need to see this.””
I turned toward him.
“No.””
My voice was steady.
“I do.””
He stopped.
Natalie placed the folder on the table.
“I promised your mother I wouldn’t give this to you unless you discovered the hidden letters yourself.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because she wanted you to choose the truth.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were copies of financial records.
Photos.
Notes.
But one page caught my attention.
A handwritten note from my mother.
Emily,
If you are reading this, I am sorry.
I’m sorry you had to find out this way.
But I need you to understand something.
Your father is not the only person responsible.
I looked at Natalie.
“What does that mean?””
Natalie looked at Claire.
Then at my father.
“It means your mother discovered the money wasn’t the beginning.””
My hands tightened around the paper.
“What was the beginning?””
Nobody answered.
Then Natalie slowly pulled out another photograph.
“This.””
She placed it on the table.
I looked down.
It was a picture of my father.
But he wasn’t alone.
Beside him was someone I had never seen before.
A man.
And written on the back were five words.
*The person who started it all.*
I looked at my father.
His face had gone completely white.
“Who is that?””
My father whispered,
“Emily…”
But Natalie interrupted.
“He’s the reason your mother hid the truth.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
Natalie looked at me.
And said:
“Your father’s first business partner.””
I frowned.
“Why would he matter?””
Natalie took a deep breath.
“Because your father didn’t lose your mother’s money.””
She looked at the photograph.
“He gave it away.””
My father closed his eyes.
And for the first time, he didn’t try to defend himself.
I stared at him.
“Dad?””
He remained silent.
Natalie opened the folder again.
“There’s one more thing your mother wanted you to see.””
“What?””
Natalie pulled out a sealed envelope.
My name was written across it.
But this time, the handwriting was different.
Not my mother’s.
Someone else had written it.
I turned it over.
And my blood went cold.
May you like
Because the name on the front was one I had never expected.
*Emily, from the man your father wanted you to forget.*
