Chapter 5: The Woman From The Past
I didn’t speak for several seconds.
The woman on the phone didn’t either.
It felt like we were both waiting for the other person to decide whether this was real.
“Who are you?”” I asked again.
Her voice trembled.
“My name is Laura Bennett.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way she said it made my stomach tighten.
“Why are you calling me?””
A shaky breath.
“Because your father tried to find me before he died.””
I looked at Mr. Harrison.
His expression changed instantly.
He knew the name.
“You know her?”” I mouthed.
He slowly nodded.
That scared me more than anything.
“Laura,” I said carefully.
“What does my father have to do with you?””
“He wanted to tell you the truth.””
“What truth?””
The woman hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“Your stepmother wasn’t honest about who she was when she married your father.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“I already know she’s cruel.””
“No.””
Laura’s voice became urgent.
“You don’t understand.””
The room went silent.
“She didn’t just want your father’s money.””
I swallowed.
“What did she want?””
“She wanted his name.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before Laura could answer, Mr. Harrison reached for the phone.
“Laura, this is Harrison.””
There was a pause.
“Mr. Harrison?””
“Yes.””
“You found her?””
“I did.””
A shaky exhale came through the speaker.
“Then Daniel was right.””
My heart pounded.
“Right about what?””
Laura answered.
“Your father knew I would eventually contact you.””
The words hit me.
My father had planned this too.
It felt impossible.
Like he was still guiding me from somewhere I couldn’t reach.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
“I can’t tell you over the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because Vivian is dangerous.””
The room became colder.
Mr. Harrison’s jaw tightened.
“She knows you’re alive?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Laura was quiet.
Then she said:
“Because she tried to make sure I wasn’t.””
Nobody spoke.
The officer immediately stood straighter.
“Are you saying there was an attempt on your life?””
Laura’s voice shook.
“I’m saying I disappeared for a reason.””
I felt sick.
“Who are you to Vivian?””
Another pause.
Then:
“I was married to her brother.””
I blinked.
“What?””
Mr. Harrison looked at me.
“Her brother?””
Laura continued.
“Before Vivian became Mrs. Cole, before she moved into your father’s world, she was someone else.””
My mind raced.
A hidden past.
A false identity.
Financial secrets.
It sounded impossible.
But then again, so did being thrown out of my own home six hours after losing my father.
“What happened?”” I asked.
Laura’s voice softened.
“I found out Vivian had been using my family’s company to hide money.””
The pieces started connecting.
“The transfers?””
“Yes.””
My breath caught.
“She did it before?””
“Yes.””
“And my father found out?””
“Yes.””
Laura paused.
“Your father was going to expose her.””
Mr. Harrison looked toward the window.
“He never told me the full story.””
Laura replied quietly.
“He was protecting you.””
Those words hurt.
Because they were the same words Mr. Harrison had said.
My father had spent his final days carrying a secret alone.
A secret meant to protect me.
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
Laura’s voice broke.
“Because Vivian was watching you.””
I felt a chill.
“Watching me?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She knew your father loved you more than anything.””
I stared at the floor.
“And?””
“And she knew the easiest way to control him was through you.””
The room went silent.
Then Laura said something that made me freeze.
“Hannah, there’s something else you need to know.””
“What?””
“Your father didn’t die without warning.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you saying?””
A long pause.
Then:
“Before he went to the hospital, he told me he believed someone was trying to kill him.””
The words didn’t feel real.
The walls seemed to move.
Mr. Harrison stood.
“Laura, are you certain?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because Daniel sent me a message that night.””
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
“What message?””
Laura answered:
“The last message your father ever sent was not to Vivian.””
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“Who was it to?””
May you like
Her reply was almost silent.
“It was to me.””
