Chapter 4: The Truth Behind My Mother’s Death
I read the sentence three times.
Then a fourth.
*Trust no one until you learn what she did to your mother.*
The room became strangely quiet.
Not peaceful.
The kind of quiet that comes right before something breaks.
I looked at Thomas.
Then Rachel.
Then back at the letter.
“My mother?””
My voice barely came out.
“My mother died in a car accident.””
Nobody answered.
That scared me more than anything.
Because people who had nothing to hide didn’t usually stay silent.
“Someone tell me what’s going on.””
Thomas slowly sat down.
His face looked older than it had five minutes earlier.
“Matthew…”
“No.””
I stepped away from the desk.
“No more secrets.””
Rachel lowered her eyes.
I could see guilt on her face.
Not guilt like she had done something wrong.
Guilt like she had carried something for too long.
“Your father wanted to tell you himself,” Thomas said.
“But he didn’t.””
“He ran out of time.””
I gripped the letter.
“My whole life, everyone told me my mom died because of a drunk driver.””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That’s what the police report said.””
“Was it wrong?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
My stomach twisted.
“Thomas.””
He took a deep breath.
“Your mother’s death was investigated.””
“Because of the accident?””
“No.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“Because your father didn’t believe it was an accident.””
I stared at him.
“My dad thought someone killed her?””
“Yes.””
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because my brain couldn’t accept it.
“My dad spent ten years thinking someone killed my mom?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Rachel reached for the envelope.
“There’s more.””
She pulled out another folded piece of paper.
“This was attached to the photograph.””
I took it.
My father’s handwriting covered the page.
Matthew,
There are things children should never have to carry.
I spent years trying to protect you from the ugliness of adults.
But protecting you also meant hiding the truth.
Your mother discovered something before she died.
My fingers tightened.
She found out Karen wasn’t who she claimed to be.
I stopped breathing.
Karen.
My stepmother.
The woman who left me on a dirt road.
The woman my father trusted enough to marry.
The woman who now apparently had something to do with my mother.
“No.””
The word escaped my mouth.
Thomas looked at me.
“Matthew—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“She couldn’t have.””
I hated that I was defending her.
But memories fought against me.
Karen making me hot chocolate when I had nightmares.
Karen sitting beside my hospital bed after my appendix surgery.
Karen helping me with homework.
People weren’t supposed to become monsters overnight.
Thomas’s voice softened.
“Your father struggled with the same thing.””
“What?””
“He wanted to believe the woman he married was still the person he fell in love with.””
I looked down.
“So what did she do?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
Rachel did.
“She changed her name.””
I looked up.
“What?””
Rachel opened a file.
“There are records here.””
She slid a document across the desk.
A birth certificate.
Different last name.
Different middle name.
But the photograph attached was unmistakable.
Karen.
My stepmother.
“You’re saying she lied about who she was?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Thomas looked at the photograph.
“Because your mother found out.””
The room spun.
I grabbed the edge of the desk.
“What did my mom find?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Financial records.””
“From the company?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“Karen was stealing from my dad before she married him?””
“We believe so.””
“Believe?””
Rachel looked uncomfortable.
“Your father never had enough proof.””
I looked at the papers.
“But now?””
Thomas nodded.
“Now we might.””
He opened the folder.
Inside were copies of old emails, financial reports, and photographs.
One photograph caught my attention.
It was taken outside a restaurant.
My father was standing beside Karen.
But they weren’t alone.
A man stood behind them.
I picked it up.
“Who is that?””
Thomas’s expression changed.
“He’s the reason your father hid the second copy of his will.””
“Who is he?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Karen’s first husband.””
My fingers went cold.
“She was married before?””
“Yes.””
“Dad knew?””
“Eventually.””
I looked at the photograph again.
The man’s eyes were pointed directly at the camera.
Almost like he knew someone would find this one day.
“What happened to him?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
I already knew I wouldn’t like the answer.
“He disappeared.””
The words hung in the air.
A knock suddenly came from the office door.
Everyone froze.
Rachel looked toward the hallway.
“I wasn’t expecting anyone.””
The door opened.
A man in a dark suit stepped inside.
He smiled politely.
Too politely.
“Rachel.””
Her face changed.
“You.””
Thomas stood immediately.
“Matthew, get behind me.””
I moved without thinking.
The man looked amused.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.””
Thomas’s voice was cold.
“Then why are you here?””
The man adjusted his jacket.
“I came to deliver a message.””
“From who?””
He looked directly at me.
“From Karen.””
My heart dropped.
The man smiled.
“She wants you to stop digging.””
Nobody moved.
Then he placed an envelope on Rachel’s desk.
“She said Matthew should know his father wasn’t the hero everyone thinks he was.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“You tell Karen something for me.””
The man raised an eyebrow.
“What?””
Thomas stared at him.
“Tell her the truth survived.””
The man’s smile disappeared.
He walked away.
But before the door closed, he looked back at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“Your mother wasn’t the only person who disappeared because of Karen.””
