Chapter 9: The Last Message From His Mother
Ethan played the recording again.
Marcus stood beside him, one hand gripping the back of the chair.
The voice of his first wife filled the study.
"There's something about your father you need to know.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Keep playing.""
The recording continued.
"I don't blame Marcus. He trusted the wrong people, just as I did. But there is something he has never told you about the night of my accident.""
Ethan looked at his father.
"What is she talking about?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know.""
His wife's voice continued.
"Marcus received a phone call from me that evening. I asked him to meet me at the old foundation building. He said he couldn't come because he was dealing with a business emergency.""
Marcus slowly sat down.
"I remember that call.""
Ethan turned toward him.
"You never told me.""
"I didn't think it mattered.""
The recording continued.
"After I hung up, someone called me again. They told me Marcus had changed his mind and was waiting for me near the south entrance.""
Margaret suddenly stood.
"Turn it off.""
Ethan looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because you've heard enough.""
Marcus turned sharply.
"Sit down.""
Margaret remained standing.
"You don't understand what you're doing.""
Marcus pointed toward the chair.
"Sit down, Margaret.""
She slowly lowered herself.
Ethan resumed the recording.
His mother's voice became softer.
"I drove toward the south entrance. But Marcus wasn't there. Daniel was.""
Ethan looked at the screen.
"Daniel?""
The recording continued.
"He told me Marcus had been delayed. He said he would take me to him. I refused. Then I saw Vanessa standing beside his car.""
Marcus's face went pale.
Ethan looked at him.
"Mom thought you were waiting for her.""
Marcus nodded.
"I never knew.""
His wife's voice continued.
"Vanessa told me everything was already arranged. She said I could walk away quietly, or I could lose everything.""
A long silence followed.
Then:
"I told her I would rather lose everything than let Ethan grow up believing money mattered more than family.""
Ethan covered his mouth.
Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder.
The recording continued.
"After that, Daniel grabbed my arm. I managed to escape, but I saw someone else waiting near the road.""
Margaret's face had become completely white.
Ethan noticed.
"Who was it?""
The recording answered.
"Margaret.""
Marcus looked at his sister-in-law.
Margaret shook her head.
"No.""
His first wife's voice continued.
"She was standing beside a police officer. They were watching the road.""
Ethan stared at Margaret.
"You were there?""
Margaret said nothing.
Marcus stood.
"Answer him.""
She looked at the floor.
"I was there.""
The words seemed to drain the air from the room.
Marcus took a step backward.
"You helped them?""
Margaret began crying.
"I didn't know they were going to hurt her.""
Ethan's voice trembled.
"Then why were you there?""
Margaret covered her face.
"Because Vanessa told me your mother was going to destroy the family.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Destroy the family?""
"She said the foundation was going to collapse. She said Daniel had been stealing money, and your wife was going to expose everyone connected to it.""
"So you helped them?""
"I was afraid!""
Marcus pointed toward the door.
"You were afraid of losing money?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No. I was afraid of losing my home, my reputation, everything.""
Ethan looked at her with disbelief.
"My mother trusted you.""
Margaret sobbed.
"I know.""
"She considered you family.""
"I know.""
"She asked you to protect me.""
Margaret lowered her head.
"I know.""
Ethan turned away.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was Margaret's crying.
Then Marcus spoke.
"What happened after the accident?""
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"I was told she had lost control of the car. Daniel said everything would be handled.""
"Who was the police officer?""
"I don't know his full name.""
"You're lying.""
Margaret looked up.
"His name was Robert Hayes.""
Marcus froze.
Ethan frowned.
"Hayes?""
Margaret nodded.
"My husband.""
The room went silent.
Marcus stared at her.
"Your husband was the officer who signed the accident report?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
Ethan stepped away from her.
"So your husband helped cover it up?""
Margaret began shaking.
"He told me it was an accident. He said Daniel had arranged everything, but he didn't tell me what would happen.""
Marcus looked at the recording device.
"Did you know Vanessa was involved?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know she married me?""
Margaret didn't answer.
Marcus slammed his hand against the desk.
"Answer me!""
"Yes!""
Her voice broke.
"I knew.""
Marcus stared at her.
"How long?""
"From the beginning.""
He looked as though he might collapse.
"You watched her enter this house. You watched her become part of my family. You watched her turn me against my son.""
Margaret cried harder.
"I thought she would leave after getting what she wanted.""
"And you said nothing?""
"I was afraid she would expose me.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You're not my family anymore.""
Margaret looked up.
"Marcus, please.""
He pointed toward the hallway.
"Leave.""
She stood slowly.
But before she could reach the door, Ethan stopped her.
"One more question.""
Margaret turned.
"Did my mother know you were involved?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did she keep trusting you?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Because she wanted to believe I could still choose the right thing.""
Ethan stared at her.
"She was wrong.""
Margaret lowered her head.
Then she walked out.
An hour later, Marcus and Ethan were sitting in the kitchen.
Neither had eaten.
The coffee in front of Marcus had gone cold.
Ethan was staring at his mother's photograph.
"She knew," he whispered.
Marcus looked up.
"What?""
"She knew what was happening. She knew Vanessa was dangerous. And she still had to go to that meeting alone.""
Marcus reached across the table.
"She thought she was protecting us.""
Ethan shook his head.
"She was protecting me.""
Marcus nodded.
"She was.""
Ethan looked at his father.
"Why didn't you come that night?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Because I was in a meeting with the company's lawyers. We were dealing with a major acquisition. Your mother called me twice.""
He looked down.
"I told her I'd call back.""
Ethan's eyes filled.
"Did you?""
"No.""
Marcus covered his face.
"I thought there would be another day.""
Ethan reached across the table and touched his father's hand.
For the first time in years, neither tried to hide what they were feeling.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
His attorney.
He answered immediately.
"Tell me you have something.""
The attorney's voice came through the speaker.
"We have Daniel Price in custody. He was injured during the arrest, but he's expected to recover.""
Marcus exhaled.
"And Vanessa?""
"She's being questioned. We recovered financial records, two passports, and several devices from the vehicle.""
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"What about the original accident recording?""
"We have it.""
"Who provided it?""
A pause.
"Daniel.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Why?""
"He's agreed to cooperate.""
Ethan leaned forward.
"What about Margaret?""
The attorney hesitated.
"That's complicated.""
Marcus frowned.
"Explain.""
"Robert Hayes, Margaret's husband, died four years ago. Before his death, he left a sealed statement with a private attorney. It was discovered during an unrelated estate review.""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"What statement?""
"A confession.""
Ethan sat up.
"Confession to what?""
The attorney continued.
"Hayes admitted that he altered the original accident report. He also named the person who instructed him to do it.""
Marcus looked toward the doorway.
Margaret was gone.
"Who?""
The attorney answered.
"Margaret Hayes.""
At the police station, Vanessa sat across from two investigators.
Her red dress had been replaced with a plain gray sweater.
Her hair was disheveled.
But her expression remained composed.
A female investigator placed several photographs on the table.
"Do you recognize this woman?""
Vanessa glanced down.
Patricia Lowell.
"Yes.""
"Did you work for her?""
"Briefly.""
"Did you have access to her financial records?""
"Yes.""
"Did you authorize payments to Bennett Strategic Consulting?""
"No.""
The investigator placed another photograph on the table.
Daniel Price.
Vanessa looked away.
"Do you know him?""
"Professionally.""
"How long have you known him?""
"Several years.""
The investigator opened a folder.
"We have bank records connecting you to two companies that received nearly one million dollars from Cole Holdings and the Lowell Investment Group.""
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"Then you should investigate the companies.""
"We are.""
The investigator placed another sheet in front of her.
"We also have a recording of you discussing the plan to make Ethan Cole appear responsible for missing money.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"That recording is illegal.""
"That's something your attorney can discuss.""
The second investigator leaned forward.
"There's something else. Daniel Price has given us a statement about Patricia Lowell's accident.""
Vanessa looked up.
"What statement?""
"He says you arranged the meeting with Patricia and helped coordinate the events that led to her car leaving the road.""
Vanessa laughed.
"He's lying.""
"Perhaps.""
The investigator slid a photograph across the table.
It showed Margaret standing beside a police officer outside the hospital.
"Do you recognize the woman?""
Vanessa stared.
"Margaret.""
"Did she help you?""
Vanessa remained silent.
The investigator nodded.
"We thought so.""
Then she placed one final document on the table.
A handwritten letter.
Vanessa recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her first wife's.
"Where did you get that?""
"It was recovered from Daniel Price's safe.""
Vanessa reached toward it.
The investigator pulled it away.
"Don't touch it.""
Vanessa's breathing became shallow.
The investigator read the first line.
To the person who finds this, the truth about my death is not what the police report says.
Vanessa looked at the wall.
For the first time, she understood that Daniel hadn't simply betrayed her.
He had kept everything.
Every document.
Every recording.
Every secret.
And now he was giving it all away.
The investigator continued.
"There's a name in this letter that we need you to explain.""
Vanessa said nothing.
The investigator looked directly at her.
"Your first wife's letter identifies someone who helped arrange the accident, but it also identifies someone who paid for it.""
Vanessa's head snapped up.
"Who?""
The investigator closed the folder.
"Your husband.""
Vanessa froze.
"Marcus?""
The investigator shook her head.
"Not Marcus Cole.""
She turned the document around.
The name written at the bottom was:
*THOMAS MILLER.*
Vanessa's older brother.
The man she had told Marcus died twelve years earlier.
The man who had supposedly disappeared after a business dispute.
Vanessa's lips parted.
"No.""
The investigator leaned forward.
"Ms. Cole, your brother is alive.""
Vanessa stared at the paper.
Then the investigator delivered the final blow.
"He contacted us this morning. He says he has been waiting seven years to tell the truth about what happened to Patricia Lowell and Marcus Cole's first wife.""
Vanessa began shaking.
"Where is he?""
The investigator stood.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
But Vanessa already knew something the police didn't.
Thomas wasn't going to tell the truth because he had suddenly grown a conscience.
He was going to tell it because he wanted something.
And if he was alive, he still had the one thing she had spent seven years trying to destroy.
The original inheritance agreement.
Back at the mansion, Ethan was preparing to go upstairs when Marcus called him.
"Son.""
Ethan stopped.
"Yeah?""
Marcus held out an envelope.
"I found this in your mother's old desk.""
Ethan took it.
His name was written on the front.
The handwriting made his throat tighten.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a short letter.
My sweet boy,
If you're reading this, you are old enough to understand that the world isn't always fair. People may try to convince you that your worth comes from money, power, or the name you carry.
Never believe them.
Your father loves you more than he knows how to express. And one day, I hope you both find your way back to each other.
Ethan stopped reading.
There was another line at the bottom.
But if Thomas Miller ever returns, don't trust him until you know why he disappeared.
Ethan looked up.
"Who is Thomas Miller?""
Marcus went completely still.
He took the letter.
Then he read the name again.
His face changed.
"Vanessa's brother.""
Ethan frowned.
"Didn't he die?""
Marcus slowly shook his head.
"No.""
He walked toward the study.
"Apparently, he's been alive all along.""
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
*I know you finally found the recordings. If you want the rest of the truth, meet me tomorrow at the cemetery. Come alone.*
Below the message was a photograph.
Marcus's first wife's grave.
And someone had placed a fresh red rose on it.
May you like
The message ended with five words:
*Ask who ordered the accident.*
