Chapter 6: The Truth About Evelyn’s Mother
Nobody spoke.
The message remained glowing on Evelyn’s phone.
A single sentence.
A single question.
Why had Victoria never told her about her mother?
Evelyn looked at Victoria.
“Do you know who sent this?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Adrian noticed.
“Victoria?””
The older woman looked away.
Richard suddenly laughed.
Not loudly.
Not happily.
Like someone who had just found a weapon.
“So.””
Everyone turned toward him.
“There’s still something you’re hiding.””
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
Richard smiled.
“You spent tonight exposing secrets.””
He looked around the ballroom.
“Maybe everyone should hear yours.””
Evelyn’s stomach tightened.
“Dad…”
Richard stepped closer.
“Ask her.””
“Ask her what?””
He looked directly at Victoria.
“Ask her why your mother disappeared.””
The room froze.
Evelyn felt like the floor moved beneath her.
“My mother died when I was six.””
Victoria’s eyes softened.
“Evelyn…”
“No.””
Her voice trembled.
“Don’t say my name like you know me.””
Victoria looked hurt.
Because she did know her.
More than Evelyn realized.
Richard noticed.
And he smiled.
“You never wondered why Victoria Hale avoided you?””
Evelyn looked confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
A memory crossed her face.
A painful one.
“I tried to find you.””
The words shocked everyone.
Evelyn stared.
“What?””
Victoria looked at her.
“After your mother disappeared, I tried to contact you.””
Richard immediately interrupted.
“That’s a lie.””
Victoria ignored him.
“I wrote letters.””
Evelyn’s breathing stopped.
“Letters?””
“Yes.””
“Where are they?””
Victoria looked at Richard.
And everyone followed her eyes.
Richard said nothing.
Evelyn understood.
Slowly.
Terrifyingly.
“You had them.””
Richard’s expression hardened.
“Evelyn, listen to me.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“You had letters from her?””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Your mother was my closest friend.””
The words hit harder.
“My mother knew you?””
“Yes.””
Evelyn looked at Richard.
“How much of my life is fake?””
Nobody answered.
Because nobody could.
Richard’s perfect image was gone.
But Victoria’s secrets were appearing too.
Adrian moved closer to Evelyn.
“Are you okay?””
She almost laughed.
“No.””
She looked around the ballroom.
“Apparently I don’t know anything.””
Victoria reached into her purse.
This time, she didn’t pull out evidence.
She pulled out a small envelope.
Old.
Worn.
Carefully preserved.
“I kept this because I hoped one day you would ask.””
Evelyn stared at it.
“What is it?””
Victoria swallowed.
“The last letter your mother wrote before she disappeared.””
Richard immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t give her that.””
Everyone looked at him.
And Evelyn saw it.
Fear again.
The same fear from earlier.
But this time, it wasn’t about losing money.
It was about losing control of the truth.
Evelyn took the envelope from Victoria.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Inside was a single page.
Only a few sentences.
She read the first line.
Then her face went pale.
Because the letter wasn’t addressed to Victoria.
It wasn’t addressed to Richard.
It was addressed to her.
May you like
And the first sentence destroyed everything she believed about her childhood:
*“Evelyn, if you are reading this, it means your father failed to keep the secret I died protecting.””*
