Chapter 2: My Mother's Last Secret
I didn't sleep that night.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the photograph until my phone screen went dark.
My mother's handwriting.
I hadn't seen it in almost four years.
She used to write little notes and leave them inside my lunchbox.
Have a wonderful day, sweetheart.
Don't forget your umbrella.
I love you more than all the stars.
After she died, I kept every single note in a small wooden box.
Vanessa had once suggested throwing them away.
She said keeping old things would prevent me from moving forward.
I had refused.
Now, apparently, my mother had left me something else.
Something important enough for Mrs. Collins to hide.
I typed a message.
Where is the envelope?
Her response took several minutes.
My room. Inside the bottom drawer of my old sewing cabinet. I couldn't give it to you before because Mrs. Bennett checks everything.
Can I come down?
Not tonight. She is awake.
I looked toward the door.
The hallway was silent.
Tomorrow morning?
Before breakfast. Six o'clock. Come through the kitchen.
I agreed.
Then I placed my phone beneath my pillow.
At some point after midnight, I finally fell asleep.
A loud knock woke me at 6:12 a.m.
"Olivia!""
Vanessa.
I sat up quickly.
"Yes?""
"Open this door.""
I looked at my phone.
Six twelve.
Mrs. Collins had said six.
I had missed the time.
"Just a minute!""
"Now, Olivia.""
I unlocked the door.
Vanessa stood outside wearing a cream silk robe, her blonde hair perfectly arranged.
There was no sign of the woman who had supposedly suffered a terrible injury the previous afternoon.
Her wrist was bare.
No bandage.
No swelling.
Nothing.
She looked me up and down.
"Did you sleep well?""
I said nothing.
She stepped inside without permission.
"I've been thinking about yesterday.""
"Good for you.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"Watch your tone.""
I crossed my arms.
"What do you want?""
She walked toward my desk and picked up a photograph of my mother.
It was taken on my tenth birthday.
Mom was sitting beside me, laughing as I held a cake with too many candles.
Vanessa examined it.
"She was very pretty.""
"Put it down.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Such a sensitive subject.""
"Put it down, Vanessa.""
She placed the frame back on the desk, but not before deliberately turning it facedown.
Then she approached me.
"Your father and I had a difficult conversation last night.""
"I heard.""
Her smile disappeared.
"You were listening?""
"The walls aren't exactly soundproof.""
She studied my face.
Then she leaned closer.
"Let me explain something, Olivia. Your father loves you. But he is tired. He's tired of your resentment, your accusations, and your constant attempts to make him feel guilty for being happy.""
"I never asked him not to be happy.""
"Then stop behaving like a jealous child.""
I looked directly at her.
"You hit me.""
Her lips pressed together.
For a moment, the mask slipped.
"Do you know what your problem is?""
I didn't answer.
"You think everything belongs to you. This house. Your father's attention.
His money. His time.""
"My father built this family before you arrived.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Your father built a life. I helped him make it better.""
She walked toward my closet and opened the doors.
"By the way, pack a few things.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Your father and I are having guests this weekend. I don't want another embarrassing scene.""
"What does that have to do with me?""
"You're going to stay with your aunt for a few days.""
I frowned.
"Aunt Margaret?""
"Yes.""
"She lives in Boston.""
"Then you'll have a lovely opportunity to visit.""
I stepped forward.
"I'm not going anywhere.""
Vanessa turned.
"Excuse me?""
"I'm not leaving my home because you don't want me here.""
Her expression hardened.
"Your home?""
She gestured around the bedroom.
"Everything in this house belongs to your father. And your father has made it very clear that he expects you to respect his decisions.""
I stared at her.
"Did he agree to send me away?""
Vanessa smiled.
"He will.""
She walked to the door.
Before leaving, she looked over her shoulder.
"Oh, and Olivia?""
"What?""
"Mrs. Collins is taking the morning off. So don't waste your time looking for her.""
My heart dropped.
Vanessa closed the door.
I immediately grabbed my phone.
Mrs. Collins, where are you?
No response.
I called.
It went straight to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
At 7:30, I went downstairs.
Vanessa was sitting at the breakfast table, scrolling through her phone.
My father stood near the kitchen island, drinking coffee.
"Morning," I said.
Dad looked up.
"Good morning.""
I glanced around.
"Where's Mrs. Collins?""
Vanessa didn't look up.
"She isn't working here anymore.""
My fingers tightened around the chair.
"What?""
Dad put down his cup.
"She resigned.""
"Resigned?""
"She said she needed time with her husband.""
I stared at him.
"When?""
"Last night.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She slowly raised her eyes.
"Something wrong, Olivia?""
I knew.
I knew she had done something.
But I didn't know what.
"Can I call her?""
Vanessa shrugged.
"She's an adult. She can answer her own phone.""
Dad checked his watch.
"I have a meeting in twenty minutes. Please don't start another argument.""
I swallowed my anger.
"Can I ask you something?""
He nodded.
"Did Mrs. Collins tell you the truth yesterday?""
His expression changed.
"She told me what she saw.""
"And?""
"And I am dealing with it.""
"How?""
He picked up his briefcase.
"Olivia, this isn't the time.""
"Then when?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa reached for the newspaper.
"Daniel, you'll be late.""
Dad kissed her forehead.
Then he looked at me.
"We'll talk tonight.""
He left.
The front door closed.
Vanessa folded the newspaper.
"Now that your father is gone, perhaps we can establish some boundaries.""
I didn't sit down.
"What did you do to Mrs. Collins?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Be careful with accusations.""
"Where is she?""
"At home, I suppose.""
"Did you threaten her?""
Vanessa stood.
She walked toward me slowly, stopping close enough for me to smell her expensive perfume.
"Listen carefully. That woman worked for this family. She was paid to clean the house, cook meals, and keep things running. She was not paid to become your personal witness.""
"She saw you hit me.""
"She saw nothing.""
"Then why did she resign?""
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Perhaps she realized that lying for an ungrateful girl was a terrible way to end her career.""
I felt sick.
"You're cruel.""
Vanessa smiled.
"And you're powerless.""
She took her purse and headed toward the hallway.
Then she stopped.
"One more thing. Your father and I have agreed that your monthly allowance will be suspended until you learn to behave appropriately.""
I stared at her.
"That's Dad's decision?""
"Of course.""
She opened the front door.
"Try not to make any more trouble while I'm gone.""
The door slammed.
I stood alone in the kitchen.
For several minutes, I couldn't move.
Then I remembered the photograph.
The envelope.
My mother's letter.
Mrs. Collins had said it was in her sewing cabinet.
If she had been dismissed, Vanessa might have searched her room already.
I hurried upstairs, grabbed my phone, and called Mrs. Collins again.
This time, she answered.
"Olivia?""
Her voice was shaky.
"Mrs. Collins! Where are you? Vanessa said you resigned.""
A long sigh.
"I didn't resign, sweetheart.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then what happened?""
"She came into my room last night. She told me I was being dismissed for stealing.""
"What?""
"She said she had found missing jewelry and that she intended to report me to the police unless I left immediately.""
My stomach twisted.
"Did you steal anything?""
"Of course not.""
"Then why didn't you tell Dad?""
"Because she showed me a photograph.""
"What photograph?""
Mrs. Collins went quiet.
Then she whispered, "A picture of my husband leaving his office.""
I closed my eyes.
Vanessa hadn't just threatened her job.
She had threatened her family.
"Where is my mother's envelope?"" I asked.
"That's why I'm calling. I went back this morning to retrieve it, but the cabinet was empty.""
My heart stopped.
"She found it?""
"I don't know.""
"Did she take it?""
"I think so.""
I leaned against the wall.
Everything was disappearing.
My mother's belongings. Mrs. Collins. My place in the house.
And Vanessa was controlling every piece.
Then Mrs. Collins said something that made me straighten.
"Olivia, there was something else inside that cabinet.""
"What?""
"A small silver key.""
"What does it open?""
"I don't know. But your mother told me something before she died.""
I held my breath.
"What?""
Mrs. Collins lowered her voice.
"She said that if Vanessa ever tried to take your home away from you, I should make sure you found the original documents.""
"Which documents?""
"I don't know, sweetheart. But your mother told me they were more important than anything your father owned.""
I stared at the wall.
My mother had known.
Somehow, she had known that one day Vanessa would try to take something from me.
Then Mrs. Collins added:
"There's one more thing you need to know. Your mother didn't die believing your father would protect you.""
My throat tightened.
"What do you mean?""
"She made me promise something.""
"What?""
"To give you the truth when you turned eighteen.""
I froze.
My eighteenth birthday was in eleven days.
Before I could ask another question, I heard a sound behind me.
A door opening.
Then Vanessa's voice.
"Who are you talking to, Olivia?""
I turned.
She was standing at the end of the hallway.
And she was holding my phone charger.
May you like
But her eyes weren't looking at the charger.
They were fixed on my phone.
