Chapter 13: The Night My Mother Disappeared
I stared at the message until the screen went dark.
*YOU FOUND THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR FATHER. NOW FIND OUT WHAT HE DID THE NIGHT YOUR MOTHER DIED.*
For years, I had carried one memory of my mother’s final night.
The hospital room.
The machines.
My father sitting beside her bed.
His hand holding hers.
The tears on his face.
I thought it was the hardest moment of his life.
Now I wondered if I had only seen the version he wanted me to see.
“Emily,” Rachel said quietly.
I looked up.
“I need to know.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
I called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
“Emily.””
“Tell me about the night my mother died.””
Silence.
A long, painful silence.
That was enough.
“Daniel.””
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.””
He sighed.
“Your mother didn’t die peacefully.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She knew she was in danger.””
I gripped the phone.
“From who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You know something.””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“Your mother called me three hours before she passed away.””
“What did she say?””
“She said she found proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“Your father’s involvement.””
The words hurt.
Even though I expected them.
“What did my father do?””
Daniel hesitated.
“He transferred money.””
“How much?””
“Almost everything Vanessa wanted.””
I closed my eyes.
“But why?””
“He thought he was fixing a problem.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Daniel sighed.
“Because your father believed Vanessa was threatening your mother.””
“Threatening her with what?””
“The truth.””
I looked at Rachel.
“What truth?””
Daniel continued.
“Your father discovered Vanessa had been hiding something from him.””
“What?””
“That she was already planning to leave him after getting access to your mother’s money.””
I felt confused.
“So my father found out?””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
“He confronted her.””
“Then why did Mom think he betrayed her?””
Daniel was quiet.
Finally:
“Because he deleted evidence.””
My stomach dropped.
“What evidence?””
“Your mother had a recording.””
“The one Vanessa wanted?””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice became heavy.
“The one proving your father had helped her.””
I looked down.
The truth hurt more than the lies.
Because my father hadn’t been innocent.
He had been trapped.
But he had still made choices.
“What happened after he deleted it?””
Daniel whispered:
“He went to your mother.””
“Why?””
“To confess.””
I closed my eyes.
A picture formed in my mind.
My father standing in that hospital room.
My mother looking at him.
Knowing everything.
“What did she say?””
Daniel answered softly.
“She forgave him.””
I froze.
“She forgave him?””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
“Your mother loved him.””
That hurt.
Because my mother had always been better than everyone else.
Even when people failed her.
She still loved them.
“But she didn’t trust him anymore.””
“What do you mean?””
“She changed her will that night.””
My breathing stopped.
“The trust?””
“Yes.””
“She removed him?””
“No.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She did something more complicated.””
“What?””
Daniel said:
“She left him one final responsibility.””
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
A photo.
My father.
Standing outside the hospital.
At midnight.
The night my mother died.
But he wasn’t alone.
Beside him was Victor Hale.
I stared at the picture.
“Daniel.””
“Yes?””
“Who took this?””
Silence.
Then:
“Your mother.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She left it behind.””
Rachel leaned closer.
“What is it?””
I showed her.
Her expression changed.
“Emily…”
“What?””
“That means your mother knew Victor was there.””
“And?””
Rachel looked terrified.
“She knew who was really behind everything.””
I looked at the photo again.
My father.
Victor.
The hospital.
My mother had known.
She had been fighting until the very end.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice spoke.
“You want the truth about your mother?””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Victor Hale.””
Rachel immediately stood.
“Hang up.””
But I didn’t.
Victor continued.
“Your mother blamed the wrong person.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What do you mean?””
A pause.
Then:
“Your father didn’t betray her.””
I looked at Rachel.
“Then who did?””
Victor whispered:
“The person standing beside you.””
May you like
The call ended.
I slowly turned toward Rachel.
