Chapter 14: The Woman Who Never Left
I couldn’t breathe.
The voice on the phone was impossible.
“Mom?””
Nobody moved.
My father closed his eyes.
Like he had been waiting for this moment his entire life.
A soft laugh came through the speaker.
“You always were a good listener.””
My hands trembled.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“Close.””
My father stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.””
I held it away.
“No.””
My mother laughed.
“Still protecting him?””
I felt anger rise inside me.
“You’re alive.””
“Yes.””
“You let me think you were dead.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than a lie.
“Why?””
The line was quiet.
Then she answered:
“Because I needed you to forget.””
My father looked devastated.
“Forget what you did.””
My mother’s voice changed.
Cold.
“Forget what you made me do.””
Everyone looked at my father.
I shook my head.
“What does that mean?””
My father whispered:
“Megan…”
“No.””
I looked at him.
“I need the truth.””
My mother spoke.
“Your father wants you to believe he saved you.””
A pause.
“But he was the reason everything happened.””
My father looked away.
I felt lost.
Who was telling the truth?
Who had been manipulating me?
My mother continued.
“Come alone, Megan.””
“No.””
“If you bring anyone, you’ll never know what happened that night.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel stepped closer.
“She’s lying.””
“How do you know?””
“Because my mother said the same things.””
That stopped me.
Daniel looked at me.
“They always make you feel like you’re the only person who can fix everything.””
Laura nodded.
“He’s right.””
I looked at Reed.
“What do you know?””
Reed looked ashamed.
“Your mother contacted Voss years ago.””
“Why?””
“Because she wanted control.””
My father stepped forward.
“She thought I would choose power over her.””
“And did you?””
The question came out before I could stop it.
My father looked at me.
“No.””
A long silence.
Then the parrot suddenly spoke.
Not a recording.
Not a copied voice.
Something new.
“MEGAN.””
Everyone froze.
The bird looked toward the front door.
“DON’T GO.””
I walked closer.
“How do you know?””
The parrot tilted its head.
Then spoke in my father’s voice.
“Because I heard her plan.””
My father looked shocked.
“What?””
The bird continued.
“Garage. Midnight. Knife.””
My mother’s plan.
My blood ran cold.
“She was going to kill me?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already knew.
Then the lights went out.
Again.
But this time, nobody panicked.
We were ready.
A sound came from the front door.
Someone entering.
My father grabbed my arm.
“Stay behind me.””
A woman’s voice echoed through the house.
“You always did think you were the hero.””
The lights came back.
A woman stood in the doorway.
Older.
Elegant.
Calm.
My mother.
She looked at me.
Then at my father.
“You ruined everything.””
My father stepped forward.
“You ruined our daughter’s life.””
My mother smiled.
“No.””
She looked at me.
“You did.””
I froze.
“What?””
She held up a small recorder.
“You still don’t remember the whole night.””
She pressed play.
My own teenage voice filled the room.
“Dad, I know what I have to do.””
My face went pale.
My mother smiled.
“You weren’t a victim, Megan.””
The recording continued.
My younger voice whispered:
“I’ll help you.””
The room went silent.
May you like
My mother looked at me.
“You chose your side.””
