Chapter 10: The Message From My Son
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The message on my phone glowed between us.
“Margaret, don’t trust Victor.””
My hands started shaking.
Not because I believed it.
Because I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
For twelve years, I had trusted memories.
I trusted the sound of my son’s laughter.
I trusted the kindness of strangers.
I trusted the people who stood beside me when everyone else walked away.
But now every piece of my life felt like it had been turned upside down.
Victor stared at the screen.
His face changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
“Margaret…”
I pulled the phone back.
“Did you send this?””
His eyes widened.
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
Or maybe exactly how an innocent person would answer.
I couldn’t tell anymore.
Richard stepped forward.
“I warned you.””
Victor turned toward him.
“You did this.””
Richard smiled.
“You think I need tricks?””
Claire looked at the phone.
“Michael’s number?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
She looked terrified.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?”” I asked.
Claire swallowed.
“Because…”
She stopped.
Victor noticed.
“Because what?””
Claire looked away.
The silence was unbearable.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Mom.””
His voice was quiet.
“Tell them.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“I don’t know if Michael sent that.””
Everyone stared.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Claire looked at me.
“It means someone else could have access to his phone.””
Victor frowned.
“Who?””
Claire looked at Richard.
Nobody moved.
Richard laughed.
“You’re finally understanding.””
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“You used Michael’s number.””
Richard shrugged.
“Maybe.””
The room became chaos.
People were asking questions.
Security guards approached.
Guests whispered.
But all I could hear was my son’s voice from years ago.
“Mom, don’t trust everyone around you.””
Had Michael known?
Had he suspected Victor too?
I looked at Victor.
The man who had found me.
The man who had called me family.
The man who had brought me here.
“I need answers.””
Victor nodded slowly.
“I know.””
“Not later.””
I looked at him.
“Now.””
He took a deep breath.
Then he reached inside his jacket.
The movement made everyone tense.
But he pulled out a small envelope.
“I was going to give this to you when we were alone.””
He handed it to me.
“What is it?””
“Something Michael gave me before he disappeared.””
My fingers froze.
“Another thing?””
Victor nodded.
“He told me never to open it unless you were in danger.””
Richard’s expression changed.
For the first time, he looked worried.
Victor noticed.
“What?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Victor opened the envelope.
Inside was a small handwritten note.
Only a few lines.
Victor read it silently.
Then his face turned pale.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He handed it to me.
My eyes moved across the page.
Victor,
If my mother is ever surrounded by people claiming to protect her, remember this:
The person closest to her may not be the person who loves her.
Watch the one who arrives first.
Not the one who arrives last.
My heart raced.
“What does that mean?””
Victor looked around the room.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then his eyes stopped.
On Richard.
“You arrived first.””
Richard smiled.
“And you arrived with four men.””
Victor’s face tightened.
“That’s not what it means.””
But I noticed something.
Something small.
A detail nobody else saw.
When Victor mentioned the note…
Richard wasn’t afraid of being accused.
He was afraid of something else.
Like he knew what Michael meant.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Grandma.””
I looked at him.
“There’s something you should know.””
He stepped forward.
“I found something in Mom’s room last year.””
Claire turned sharply.
“Ethan.””
He ignored her.
“A box.””
My heart pounded.
“What kind of box?””
“A locked one.””
Victor looked at him.
“Did you open it?””
Ethan shook his head.
“No.””
Richard suddenly moved.
“Where is it?””
Everyone noticed.
His reaction was too fast.
Too desperate.
Ethan stepped back.
“It’s at home.””
Victor looked at me.
“We need to go.””
Richard laughed.
“You think you can just leave?””
Victor looked at him.
“Yes.””
Then he turned to his brothers.
“Get the car.””
The bikers moved immediately.
But before we reached the door…
Claire grabbed my arm.
Her eyes were full of fear.
“Margaret.””
I turned.
She whispered:
“Your son didn’t disappear because of Richard.””
My heart stopped.
“Then why?””
She looked at Victor.
May you like
Then at me.
“He disappeared because he trusted the wrong person.””
