Chapter 3: The Woman From The Past
I drove to my mother’s house that afternoon.
She lived two hours away now, in a small home surrounded by trees.
When she opened the door, she immediately knew something was wrong.
“Ethan.””
I hugged her.
“I need to ask you something.””
She looked worried.
“What happened?””
I showed her the photograph.
Her face changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“You know her.””
My mother sat down slowly.
“Where did you get this?””
“Someone sent it to me.””
She looked at Vanessa’s picture.
Then whispered:
“She came here years ago.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“After you left for college.””
I sat down.
“What did she want?””
My mother looked uncomfortable.
“She wanted information about you.””
“Why?””
“She asked how you paid for school. How you started your business. Who helped you.””
I stared at her.
“And what did you tell her?””
“The truth.””
My mother reached for my hand.
“I told her nobody helped you.””
That answer surprised me.
“Mom.””
She smiled sadly.
“I told her you built everything yourself.””
I looked back at the photograph.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because you were finally happy.””
I didn’t answer.
My mother had spent years protecting me.
But now I wondered what else she knew.
“What did Vanessa say?””
My mother looked away.
“She said you stole something from her family.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“She said one day you would understand.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
That night, I searched every record connected to my company.
And I found something I had never noticed.
A small investment from fifteen years ago.
The first money that helped me open my original restaurant.
The investor’s name was hidden.
May you like
But the legal documents contained a signature.
Daniel Parker.
