Chapter 10: The Name On The Screen
The name appeared on the screen.
And my entire body went cold.
I stared at it.
Once.
Twice.
A third time, hoping my eyes were lying.
They weren’t.
The person responsible for my mother’s death was:
*Evelyn Bennett.*
My grandmother.
My father’s mother.
The woman who raised me after my mother died.
The woman who held my hand at the funeral.
The woman who told me my mother was “watching over me.””
I stepped away from the laptop.
“No.””
Nobody spoke.
I shook my head.
“No, that’s impossible.””
Victor looked down.
Like he had been waiting for this moment.
Detective Harris slowly asked:
“Who is Evelyn Bennett?””
I looked at him.
“My grandmother.””
Vanessa whispered:
“Michael…”
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
Her face changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You knew.””
She swallowed.
“I knew there was a connection.””
“A connection?””
My voice rose.
“My grandmother killed my mother.””
“I don’t know if she killed her herself.””
I pointed at the screen.
“Then why is her name here?””
Nobody answered.
The video continued.
My father appeared again.
His face was older than I remembered.
Exhausted.
“Michael, if you’re watching this, then Evelyn knows I found the truth.””
I froze.
My father continued.
“She will tell you that everything she did was for the family.””
My hands tightened.
“That she was protecting the Bennett name.””
The screen flickered.
“But the truth is simple.””
My father leaned closer.
“She destroyed everything she claimed to protect.””
The video stopped.
Detective Harris looked at Victor.
“How long have you known?””
Victor sighed.
“Years.””
My anger turned toward him.
“You knew my grandmother killed my mother?””
“I knew she was involved.””
“And you said nothing?””
Victor looked at me.
“Your father made me promise.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps making promises.””
I turned away.
“Everyone except the person who needed the truth.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Michael.””
I moved back.
“No.””
She stopped.
“I need to understand something.””
She looked at me.
“Did you know my grandmother?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Yes.””
That answer hit harder than expected.
“How?””
“Daniel worked with her.””
I stared.
“What?””
She nodded.
“Your grandmother wasn’t just connected to Daniel. She helped him.””
Detective Harris immediately focused.
“Helped him do what?””
Vanessa looked at the ground.
“Move money.””
The room became silent.
I felt like every piece of my life was connected to a story I was never allowed to read.
My grandmother.
My father’s company.
Daniel.
Ryan.
Vanessa.
Everyone had been hiding something.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message.
*You finally found her name.*
My stomach tightened.
Another message appeared.
*Now ask why your father protected her.*
I stared at the screen.
“How does he know?””
Victor’s expression changed.
“Because he’s close.””
“Ryan?””
Victor shook his head.
“No.””
He looked toward the hidden room.
“Someone closer.””
The lights suddenly went out.
Again.
This time, nobody moved.
A sound came from upstairs.
A door opening.
Detective Harris pulled his weapon.
“Stay here.””
I whispered:
“Someone’s inside my house.””
Victor looked at me.
“No.””
His face turned pale.
“They’re not inside your house.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He pointed upward.
“They were already here.””
A floorboard creaked.
Then another.
Someone was walking slowly across the upstairs hallway.
Toward our bedroom.
Detective Harris moved toward the stairs.
But before he reached them, a voice called down.
“Michael?””
My blood froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It was calm.
Familiar.
A voice from my childhood.
“Michael, sweetheart.””
I stopped breathing.
My grandmother stepped into view.
Evelyn Bennett.
Older.
Elegant.
Holding a cane.
Looking exactly like the woman from my memories.
Except now I knew what she was capable of.
She looked at the laptop.
Then at Victor.
“You were supposed to stay dead.””
Victor stared at her.
“You were supposed to confess.””
My grandmother smiled.
“I knew you would never understand.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
Her eyes moved toward me.
And the smile disappeared.
“Because your father was weak.””
My hands curled into fists.
“You killed my mother.””
She didn’t deny it.
That was the worst part.
She simply said:
“Your mother was going to destroy this family.””
The room went silent.
May you like
And then she added:
“Just like your wife is trying to do now.””
