Chapter 9: The Truth Beneath the Truth
For the first time in my life, my father locked every door in our house.
Not because we were worried about strangers.
Because we knew exactly who was outside.
Someone who knew our routines.
Someone who knew where we slept.
Someone who had spent years pretending to love us.
The security company arrived before midnight.
Cameras were installed around the property.
The gates were reinforced.
Every phone call was checked.
But none of it made me feel safe.
Because fear wasn't just about what Richard could do.
It was about what he had already done.
I sat on my bed staring at the photograph he sent.
My own image.
Taken through my kitchen window.
I hated that.
Not because he photographed me.
Because he had stolen another moment from me.
A moment that should have been normal.
A morning with my mother.
A morning with my father.
A morning where I finally felt like I belonged.
My mother knocked softly.
“Maya?””
I wiped my face.
“Come in.””
She opened the door slowly.
For a second, she just stood there.
Like she wasn't sure if she was allowed inside.
That hurt.
Because this was her house too.
“You look like you used to.””
I looked confused.
“What?””
She smiled sadly.
“When you were little, you slept with your stuffed rabbit under your arm.””
I almost smiled.
“I don't remember that.””
“I do.””
She sat beside me.
“You used to tell everyone the rabbit protected you.””
I looked down.
“I needed protection.””
Her expression changed.
“I know.””
The silence between us was heavy.
Not uncomfortable.
Just full of everything we lost.
“I have questions,” I whispered.
She nodded.
“You deserve answers.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you call me?””
Her eyes filled instantly.
“I tried.””
“How many times?””
“Hundreds.””
My chest tightened.
“What happened?””
She took a breath.
“After I left the hospital, I was taken to a rehabilitation center outside the city.””
“Taken?””
She nodded.
“Richard arranged it.””
My hands curled into fists.
“He told everyone I was unstable.””
My mother looked away.
“He convinced people I was confused after the accident.””
“But you weren't.””
“No.””
She touched my hand.
“I remembered everything.””
“Then why didn't you leave?””
Her eyes became darker.
“Because he threatened you.””
The room became silent.
“He said if I contacted Marcus or you, he would make sure you disappeared too.””
I stared.
“He threatened a child?””
“He didn't see you as a child.””
Her voice broke.
“He saw you as a weakness.””
I looked away.
For years, I thought my weakness was needing people.
I thought crying made me weak.
I thought asking for help made me weak.
But Richard had used the people I loved against me.
My mother continued.
“I escaped three years ago.””
“The year Denise came here.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you come home?””
“Because Richard wasn't the only person watching.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
She hesitated.
Then:
“Thomas Reed.””
Dad walked into the doorway.
He had heard.
“Thomas knew?””
My mother looked at him.
“Yes.””
Dad's face hardened.
“He was my lawyer for twenty years.””
“I know.””
“How?””
“Because Richard needed someone who could control your legal documents.””
Dad walked into the room.
“What documents?””
My mother looked at me.
“The documents after your accident.””
I frowned.
“My accident?””
She looked surprised.
“You don't remember?””
I shook my head.
“What accident?””
My mother went pale.
“Maya…”
Dad sat down.
“What are you saying?””
My mother whispered:
“The night I disappeared wasn't the only accident.””
The room felt frozen.
She looked at me.
“When Richard realized I was going to expose him, he tried to scare me.””
My heart pounded.
“And?””
“He failed.””
My father looked at her.
“What happened?””
My mother reached for my hand.
“Your car accident.””
I stared.
“What?””
She started crying.
“You were eight years old.””
Memories came back.
A rainy night.
Headlights.
Glass breaking.
My father screaming.
I remembered waking up in the hospital.
But I never remembered why.
Everyone told me it was just bad luck.
My mother shook her head.
“It wasn't.””
Dad stood suddenly.
“No.””
“He was trying to hurt me.””
My mother looked at him.
“He thought I was driving.””
My breath caught.
“But I wasn't.””
“No.””
She squeezed my hand.
“You were in the back seat.””
I felt sick.
Richard hadn't just destroyed my family.
He had tried to destroy me.
My father covered his face.
All these years.
He had blamed himself.
He had believed he failed to protect us.
But the truth was worse.
Someone had been hunting us.
Then the alarm sounded.
Everyone froze.
The security system.
Dad grabbed his phone.
“What happened?””
A guard answered.
“Mr. Williams, someone entered the property.””
My father looked at us.
“Stay here.””
“No,” my mother said.
Everyone looked at her.
She stood.
“I know him.””
Dad stared.
“What?””
She looked toward the window.
“He isn't here to hurt us.””
A pause.
“He's here because he wants something.””
The lights suddenly flickered.
Then went out.
My mother grabbed my hand.
And in the darkness, a voice came from downstairs.
“Marcus.””
My father froze.
May you like
Because he knew that voice.
Thomas Reed.
