Chapter 6: The Family Secret
The name on the document stayed in my mind all day.
Evelyn.
My aunt.
My father’s older sister.
The person who had been helping me with my college applications.
The person who told me she believed in me.
I couldn’t understand it.
“She helped me write the first draft,” I whispered.
Dad looked shocked.
“Are you saying Aunt Evelyn changed it?””
“I don’t know.””
But deep down, I knew something was wrong.
Madison looked at me.
“I never knew.””
I looked at her.
“You thought it was just me.””
She nodded.
“I thought I was the only person who hated seeing you succeed.””
The honesty hurt.
But it also explained something.
My sister wasn’t the beginning of this.
She was just the easiest person to blame.
That evening, Dad called Aunt Evelyn.
He didn’t tell her why.
He just asked her to come over.
When she arrived, she walked in smiling.
“Everything okay?””
Nobody answered.
Her smile faded.
“What happened?””
Dad placed the document on the table.
Her face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
A flash of fear.
“You know what this is?””
She looked at him.
“Of course not.””
Dad pointed at the signature.
“Your digital account was used.””
She stared.
“That’s impossible.””
Madison crossed her arms.
“Then explain it.””
Aunt Evelyn looked at her.
“You?””
Madison looked away.
“Yes. Me.””
The room became tense.
Aunt Evelyn sighed.
“This is ridiculous.””
Dad’s voice was calm.
“Then help us understand.””
She walked around the table.
Picked up the document.
Then she said something I never expected.
“I changed it.””
Everyone froze.
My heart dropped.
“You did?””
She nodded.
“I changed the essay.””
“Why?””
Her eyes moved toward me.
And for the first time, I saw something familiar.
Jealousy.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Jealousy.
“Because I knew what would happen.””
Dad looked confused.
“What would happen?””
She laughed softly.
“You would all celebrate her.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Your mother was always the favorite.””
The words felt like a slap.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
Dad’s face hardened.
“Don’t bring her into this.””
But Aunt Evelyn continued.
“She was the one everyone admired. The perfect wife. The perfect mother.””
Her voice trembled.
“And after she died, you became the reminder of everything she was.””
I felt frozen.
“You hurt me because of Mom?””
“No.””
She looked away.
“I hurt you because I was tired of feeling invisible.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
The same reason Madison gave.
Two people.
Two generations.
Both letting jealousy turn into cruelty.
Dad stood up.
“That does not excuse what you did.””
Aunt Evelyn looked at him.
“I know.””
“Then why?””
She was silent.
Finally, she whispered:
“Because I thought if she failed once, maybe everyone would stop looking at her like she was special.””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A voice spoke immediately.
“Your aunt wasn’t acting alone.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who is this?””
The caller ignored my question.
“You’re looking at the wrong person.””
I stood up.
“What do you mean?””
A pause.
Then the stranger said:
“The person who started this entire thing is someone your family trusts more than anyone.””
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Dad stepped closer.
“What happened?””
I looked at him.
And I knew one thing.
May you like
The person trying to destroy my future…
Was still inside our family.
