Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I didn’t sleep.
Not because I was afraid someone would break into my house again.
Because I was afraid of what else I didn’t know.
Every memory I had of Daniel felt different now.
Every conversation had a second meaning.
Every smile had a shadow behind it.
At 6:00 a.m., Marcus arrived with coffee and a worried expression.
“You’re okay?””
I nodded.
“Physically.””
He understood.
That was the problem.
“Where’s Ethan?””
I looked at him.
“He’s not answering.””
Marcus frowned.
“He should.””
“Why?””
“Because he knows how serious this is.””
I looked at the purple apron sitting on the kitchen table.
“He wasn’t the only one who knew.””
Marcus followed my eyes.
“Richard.””
I nodded.
Marcus went silent.
“You know him.””
It wasn’t a question.
Marcus looked away.
“Emily…”
“You know him.””
He sighed.
“Yes.””
The anger returned.
“Everyone knew my husband had secrets except me.””
“That’s not fair.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Isn’t it?””
Marcus sat down.
“I met Daniel before he met you.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
He looked at the apron.
“You met the man Daniel became.””
My chest tightened.
“But I knew the man he was before.””
I listened.
“Daniel was angry when I met him. Hurt. He hated his father.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard left.””
I nodded.
“I know that.””
Marcus shook his head.
“He didn’t just leave.””
I waited.
“He took everything.””
“What?””
“The family money. The business accounts. He disappeared and left Daniel with nothing.””
I looked confused.
“Then why would Richard say Daniel owed him?””
“Because Richard always rewrote the story.””
The words settled heavily.
I thought about the note.
Ask your mother.
“My mother.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Your mother knew Richard?””
I nodded slowly.
“She knew Daniel’s family.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
A memory.
One I had ignored.
Years ago, before my mother died, she had warned me.
Not about Daniel.
About his father.
I remembered her sitting at my kitchen table.
Her hands wrapped around a cup of tea.
She had said:
“Emily, some families bury secrets deeper than bodies.””
At the time, I thought she was being dramatic.
Now I wasn’t sure.
I grabbed my phone.
I searched through old messages.
Old photos.
Old emails.
Then I found it.
A message from my mother three weeks before she died.
I had never understood why she sent it.
*If anything happens to me, ask Daniel about the Carter family. He knows more than he says.*
My hands went cold.
Marcus read over my shoulder.
“Your mother knew.””
“Yes.””
“Did Daniel?””
“I don’t know.””
Before I could think, someone knocked on the door.
I froze.
Marcus stood.
“I’ll check.””
“No.””
I grabbed his arm.
“We don’t know who’s outside.””
The knocking came again.
Then a voice.
“Emily?””
My heart stopped.
“Mom?””
No.
Impossible.
I walked toward the door slowly.
The voice came again.
“Emily, open the door.””
I looked through the window.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
My mother’s best friend.
Clara.
I opened the door slightly.
“Clara?””
She looked relieved.
“I was afraid I was too late.””
My throat tightened.
“Too late for what?””
She looked past me.
At the purple apron.
At Marcus.
Then back at me.
“Daniel found out the truth about your mother’s death.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Clara’s eyes filled with tears.
“I should have told you years ago.””
My hand slipped from the door.
“What are you talking about?””
She whispered:
“Your mother didn’t die of natural causes.””
The world tilted.
“No.””
“She was investigating Richard Carter.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Why?””
Clara looked terrified.
“Because she discovered what he did.””
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
“What did he do?””
Clara looked directly at me.
“He didn’t just destroy Daniel’s family.””
May you like
A pause.
“He destroyed yours too.””
