Chapter 5: The Truth Vanessa Buried
Richard and I sat in silence.
The coffee between us went cold.
Finally, I asked:
“Who is she protecting?””
Richard looked toward the window.
“Not herself.””
“Then who?””
“My father.””
I froze.
“Your father is alive?””
“Yes.””
“Then why use Daniel’s name?””
Richard’s hands tightened.
“Because my father disappeared after Daniel died.””
I leaned forward.
“What does this have to do with me?””
Richard looked at me.
“Fifteen years ago, your mother found something.””
“What?””
“A document.””
“What document?””
Richard took a deep breath.
“A document proving my father and Daniel had been involved in a financial scheme.””
Everything suddenly connected.
Vanessa wasn’t trying to embarrass me.
She wasn’t trying to steal a hotel.
She was searching for something.
Something she thought I had.
I returned to my office that evening.
On my desk was another envelope.
This time, there was a name written on it.
Not Vanessa.
Not Richard.
Mine.
Ethan Bennett.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting looked old.
I read the first line.
And my entire body went cold.
“Ethan, if you are reading this, it means Vanessa finally found you.””
I turned the page.
The signature at the bottom made me stop breathing.
Because it was from the one person I thought could never be connected to this mystery.
My mother.
May you like
And beneath her signature were six words:
“I lied to you about your father.””
