Chapter 7: The Truth Behind My Father’s Message
I stared at Daniel’s message for almost a full minute.
*Please don’t trust Vanessa.*
The words looked simple.
Too simple.
After everything that happened, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Not my father.
Not my stepmother.
Not even the documents sitting in front of me.
Because everyone had been hiding something.
I typed a reply.
*Then tell me the truth.*
The three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
I waited.
Nothing came.
I called him.
He didn’t answer.
I called again.
Still nothing.
My chest tightened.
If Daniel finally wanted to tell me the truth, why was he suddenly silent?
I grabbed my jacket and drove back toward the house.
I didn’t care if it was a mistake.
I needed answers.
When I arrived, the front door was slightly open.
My heart started racing.
I stepped inside.
“Dad?””
No response.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
I walked toward the kitchen.
Then I heard voices from the office.
Vanessa.
And Mark.
I stopped.
Mark Collins.
The man who had once brought me birthday presents.
The man who smiled at my father like a brother.
The man whose name appeared on those documents.
I slowly moved closer.
The office door was not fully closed.
“You promised this would stay hidden,” Vanessa said.
Her voice sounded angry.
Mark answered calmly.
“You promised Emily would never look into the accounts.””
My stomach dropped.
They were talking about me.
“I didn’t expect her to be this stubborn,” Vanessa said.
Mark laughed softly.
“She’s her mother’s daughter.””
I froze.
My mother.
A woman who died when I was young.
I leaned closer.
“What does my mother have to do with this?””
The voices stopped.
A second later, the office door opened.
Vanessa stepped out.
Her expression changed when she saw me.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that.””
I looked past her.
Mark was standing inside.
For the first time, he didn’t look like the friendly man from my childhood.
He looked nervous.
“What did you mean?”” I asked.
Neither answered.
I walked into the office.
“Why did you say my mother?””
Mark looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
“Don’t.””
That single word told me there was something much bigger happening.
I looked at Mark.
“Tell me.””
He sighed.
“Emily, there are things you don’t understand.””
I laughed.
“That’s everyone’s favorite sentence when they’re hiding something.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You think you know everything because you found a few papers.””
“No.””
I pointed at Mark.
“I think I know enough to ask why my identity was used.””
Mark’s face hardened.
“Your father made mistakes.””
I looked at him.
“And you helped.””
Silence.
Then I noticed something on the desk.
A folder.
The same type of folder Daniel had been carrying.
I grabbed it.
Vanessa immediately moved toward me.
“Give that back.””
I opened it.
Inside were more documents.
Loan applications.
Bank records.
And a letter.
My hands shook as I read the first line.
*To whom it may concern, I authorize Daniel Carter to act on my behalf regarding financial matters…*
I stopped.
My eyes moved to the bottom.
There was my signature.
But underneath it was another note.
*Signed under family agreement.*
I looked at Vanessa.
“What is this?””
She didn’t answer.
I turned toward Mark.
“What did you do?””
Mark looked uncomfortable.
“I helped your father solve a problem.””
“A problem?””
I held up the paper.
“You created a fake agreement.””
He shook his head.
“You don’t know the full story.””
“Then explain it.””
He stayed silent.
That was when I realized something.
They weren’t afraid of being caught.
They were afraid of what I would discover next.
My phone suddenly rang.
Daniel.
I answered immediately.
“Dad?””
His voice was low.
“Emily, where are you?””
“At home.””
A pause.
Then:
“Leave.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Leave right now.””
“Why?””
His breathing became faster.
“Because Vanessa knows I found the original files.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me.
“What original files?””
Daniel whispered:
“The ones that prove who actually signed your name.””
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“What did he say?””
I stared at her.
“You tell me.””
Her expression changed.
And then she reached toward the folder in my hand.
Too late.
Because I had already seen the name written on the last page.
The person who approved the identity authorization.
It wasn’t Daniel.
May you like
It wasn’t Mark.
It was Vanessa.
