Chapter 4: The Name Hidden in My Past
I didn’t sleep that night.
I sat on my apartment floor with old family photos scattered around me.
Victoria Ashford’s words repeated in my mind.
Ask your mother why she never told you about me.
My mother.
The woman who raised me alone.
The woman who worked double shifts so I could finish school.
The woman who always avoided talking about wealthy people.
I had always assumed she hated them because of how they treated ordinary people.
But what if there was another reason?
The next morning, I drove to my mother’s house.
She opened the door wearing a surprised expression.
“Emma? What are you doing here?””
I stepped inside.
“Mom, I need to ask you something.””
Her smile disappeared.
“What happened?””
I placed a photo on the table.
Victoria Ashford.
My mother stared at it.
And immediately turned pale.
That reaction told me everything.
“You know her.””
She sat down slowly.
“Where did you see her?””
“At the gala.””
My mother closed her eyes.
“Oh no.””
“Mom, what is going on?””
She was silent for a long time.
Then she whispered:
“She found you.””
My stomach tightened.
“Found me?””
My mother looked at me.
“There are things I never wanted you to know.””
“Why?””
“Because knowing the truth could put you in danger.””
I almost laughed.
“Mom, a billionaire’s enemy threatened me last night. I think I’m already involved.””
She looked away.
Then she opened a drawer.
Inside was an old folder.
She placed it on the table.
“This belonged to your father.””
I froze.
My father had died when I was five.
I barely remembered him.
“What does he have to do with Victoria?””
My mother opened the folder.
Inside were newspaper articles.
Old ones.
A young Victoria Ashford.
A man I recognized as my father.
And another name.
Halston Medical Technologies.
I looked at my mother.
“Why are these together?””
She whispered:
“Because your father discovered what Victoria was doing.””
The room became silent.
“What was she doing?””
“She was stealing research. Money. Patents.””
I stared.
“And my father?””
“He tried to expose her.””
My mother’s hands shook.
“Then he died.””
I stopped breathing.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying your father’s death wasn’t an accident.””
I looked at the folder.
All those years.
All those unanswered questions.
And suddenly, everything connected.
My mother grabbed my hand.
“Emma, you need to stay away from Adrian Bennett.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because people like him are dangerous.””
“That doesn’t make sense. He helped me.””
She looked terrified.
“You don’t understand.””
“Understand what?””
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
And her face changed.
“What is it?””
She didn’t respond.
She answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then she dropped the phone.
“Mom?””
She looked at me.
“Victoria knows.””
My heart sank.
“Knows what?””
My mother whispered:
“She knows Adrian has the documents.””
A knock came from the front door.
Three slow knocks.
My mother and I froze.
Then a voice came from outside.
“Emma.””
May you like
Victoria.
“I think we need to talk.””
