Chapter 5: The Letter Hidden For Years
The police report was filed that afternoon.
The lawyer came over the next morning.
Everything moved quickly after that.
But emotionally, I felt frozen.
Because while everyone talked about documents and signatures, I kept thinking about my mother’s letter.
The one Vanessa had taken.
The one she believed was valuable.
Dad sat beside me at the kitchen table.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ever suspect her?””
He looked away.
“No.””
That answer hurt.
But I understood.
People who manipulate others rarely look like villains.
They look like family.
The lawyer, Mr. Collins, arrived with a folder.
“I found something interesting.””
Dad straightened.
“What?””
He placed a document on the table.
“Your wife attempted to access the trust funds three years ago.””
My eyes widened.
“She tried before?””
Mr. Collins nodded.
“She claimed she was acting as your guardian.””
Dad looked shocked.
“She didn’t have permission.””
“No.””
The lawyer pointed to the document.
“She was denied.””
I stared at the paper.
“She knew she couldn’t take the money.””
“That’s why she tried another way,” Dad said quietly.
The room went silent.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
“Hello?””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then I heard Vanessa’s voice.
“You found the documents.””
My grip tightened.
“Where are you?””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“Why did you do this?””
She laughed softly.
“You still don’t understand.””
“What don’t I understand?””
“You think this was about Ethan.””
I looked at Dad.
He listened silently.
“It wasn’t?””
“No.””
Her voice became colder.
“This was about your mother.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She knew too much.””
Dad stood up.
“Vanessa, what are you talking about?””
There was a pause.
Then she said:
“Daniel, you should have told her the truth years ago.””
My father’s face changed.
“What truth?””
I felt my stomach twist.
Vanessa continued.
“Ask him why your mother was investigating him before she died.””
The call went silent.
Then ended.
Nobody moved.
I looked at my father.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
And that scared me more than anything Vanessa had ever done.
Because my father had always been the person who protected me.
The person who told me the truth.
But now…
He looked like someone who had been hiding one.
“Dad,” I whispered.
“What was Mom investigating?””
He slowly sat down.
His hands trembled.
Then he opened the drawer where the old documents were kept.
From the bottom, he pulled out a small envelope.
One I had never seen before.
My name was written on it.
In my mother’s handwriting.
He handed it to me.
“She wanted you to read this when you were old enough.””
I stared at the envelope.
The paper was yellowed with age.
The seal was still untouched.
I looked at Dad.
“Why didn’t you give it to me?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was afraid of what it would reveal.””
My fingers moved toward the envelope.
I slowly opened it.
May you like
And the first sentence made my entire world fall apart.
“Dear Emma, if you are reading this, it means I was right about the person closest to us…”
