Chapter 12: The Truth Behind the Steering Wheel
“Who was driving?””
Vanessa's voice was barely recognizable.
Daniel stood beside the piano, staring at the old family photograph.
Jonathan's accusation hung in the air.
Tiana had stopped crying.
Brielle looked confused.
And Margaret was watching Daniel with an expression that suggested she already knew the answer.
“Dad,” Vanessa whispered.
“Who was driving Mom's car?””
Daniel finally looked at her.
“I was.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Vanessa grabbed the edge of the table.
“You?””
Daniel nodded.
“But I thought Mom was alone.””
“She wasn't.””
“You told me she was driving home from the hospital.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I lied.””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“Why?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
He sat down slowly.
“Seven years ago, your mother and I argued at the garage. She wanted me to report Jonathan immediately. I wanted to speak to him first.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“She believed I was protecting my business partner instead of protecting her.””
“Were you?””
“I was trying to protect our family. But I made the wrong decision.””
Vanessa looked at the letter.
“Then what happened?””
Daniel took a deep breath.
“Your mother refused to let me drive her home. She said she needed to go somewhere alone. But when she reached the parking lot, I followed her.””
He paused.
“I caught up with her near the highway. She eventually let me get into the passenger seat because she was exhausted.””
Vanessa felt tears running down her cheeks.
“You were in the car when it happened?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell everyone you weren't?””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“Because I was the only other person who survived the crash.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Margaret stepped closer.
“Daniel, you need to explain the rest.””
He nodded.
“The car suddenly began pulling to the right. Your mother tried to correct the steering, but the brakes weren't responding properly.””
He stared at his hands.
“I grabbed the steering wheel.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“What?””
“I tried to help her regain control. But the car was already moving too fast. We hit the guardrail.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“I woke up in the hospital two days later.””
Vanessa was crying openly now.
“Was Mom already dead?””
He nodded.
“The doctors told me she died at the scene.””
“Then why did you lie?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Because I couldn't remember everything. The doctors said the trauma had affected my memory. I remembered the argument.
I remembered grabbing the wheel. But I didn't remember exactly what happened before the crash.””
Margaret placed a hand on the table.
“And the police investigation?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I told them I was a passenger. I didn't want anyone thinking I had caused the accident.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You let them investigate a lie?””
“Yes.””
“You let me grow up believing she was alone?””
“Yes.””
“Did you kill her?””
Daniel began crying.
“No, sweetheart. I swear I didn't.””
Vanessa wanted to believe him.
But she had spent the entire day discovering how many times the adults in her life had lied.
She couldn't accept another promise without proof.
Margaret opened her folder.
“There's something we need to establish. The original accident report contains a medical statement from Daniel.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What statement?””
“You told the hospital that your wife was driving.””
Daniel nodded.
“I was confused. I was injured.””
“But the hospital's emergency notes indicate that you were found in the driver's seat.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Why?””
Daniel looked stunned.
“I don't remember.””
Margaret continued.
“The police report also states that the driver's airbag deployed. The passenger-side airbag did not.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That doesn't mean anything. I could have moved after the crash.””
Vanessa felt sick.
“Dad, were you driving or not?””
“I don't know!””
His shout startled everyone.
Daniel stood, breathing heavily.
“I remember your mother screaming. I remember reaching for the wheel. I remember the impact. But I don't remember who was controlling the car when we hit the barrier.””
The officer approached.
“Mr. Hayes, we're going to need you to come with us for a formal statement.””
Daniel nodded.
“I understand.””
Vanessa looked at Margaret.
“What about the letter?””
Margaret examined the final page.
“The name your mother wrote may explain why she was so afraid.””
Vanessa unfolded it again.
At the bottom, beneath the paragraph about the family member helping Jonathan, was a handwritten name.
*Evelyn Hayes.*
Vanessa frowned.
“Who is Evelyn?””
Daniel looked up sharply.
“My mother.””
Vanessa stared at him.
Her grandmother had died when Vanessa was very young.
She remembered her as a quiet woman who smelled of lavender and always carried peppermints in her handbag.
“What did Grandma have to do with this?””
Daniel sat down again.
“She handled the family's finances before I started my business.””
Margaret nodded.
“And according to the old company records, she was listed as an authorized administrator for the foundation.””
Vanessa felt another wave of confusion.
“But Grandma was dead before Mom's accident.””
“Exactly,” Margaret replied.
She pointed to the document.
“Your mother wrote this name seven years ago. If Evelyn was involved, she would have needed access to the company's original financial records.””
Daniel stared at the paper.
“My mother died nine years ago.””
Margaret looked toward the police officer.
“Then someone may have been using her identity.””
The officer made a note.
“We'll investigate.””
At that moment, Brielle approached Vanessa.
“Can I tell you something?””
Vanessa looked exhausted.
“What?””
“Mom told me Grandma Evelyn was the person who originally introduced her to Jonathan.””
Daniel turned sharply.
“What did you say?””
Brielle looked frightened.
“She said they knew each other before Mom married you.””
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Did you know that?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Brielle continued.
“She also said Grandma Evelyn had promised her something. She said that if your mother ever tried to expose Jonathan, there was a way to make sure nobody believed her.””
Margaret's expression became serious.
“What way?””
Brielle swallowed.
“Mom said there was a recording.””
“A recording of what?”” Vanessa asked.
“I don't know. But she said it was hidden in a storage locker.””
Daniel stood.
“Where?””
Brielle looked toward Tiana.
Tiana immediately shook her head.
“Brielle, don't.””
Brielle's eyes filled.
“I'm tired of lying for you.””
She turned toward Vanessa.
“Mom has the storage locker key. She keeps it inside the lining of her jewelry box.””
Tiana suddenly rushed toward the staircase.
The officer blocked her.
“Mrs. Hayes, stay where you are.””
Tiana began shouting.
“You can't search my belongings!””
Margaret remained calm.
“If there's evidence connected to a possible criminal investigation, the appropriate authorities can obtain the necessary authorization.””
Tiana looked at Jonathan's empty place near the doorway.
Then she turned toward Brielle.
“You've destroyed this family.””
Brielle shook her head.
“No, Mom. You did.””
For a moment, Tiana looked as though she might strike her daughter.
Instead, she grabbed her handbag and sat down.
The officer escorted Daniel outside for questioning.
Vanessa remained in the living room with Margaret and Brielle.
She looked at the photograph of her mother.
There were still so many unanswered questions.
Who had tampered with the brakes?
Why had her father hidden his presence in the car?
What had Grandma Evelyn known?
And what was inside the mysterious storage locker?
Margaret received a message from the investigator.
She read it once.
Then again.
Her expression became grave.
“What is it?”” Vanessa asked.
“The police have obtained preliminary information about the storage facility.””
“Did they find the recording?””
Margaret shook her head.
“No. But the locker was accessed this morning.””
Vanessa felt her stomach drop.
“By Tiana?””
Margaret looked toward the staircase.
“No.””
She turned the phone around.
The security image showed a woman wearing a gray coat, entering the storage facility with a key.
Her face was clearly visible.
Vanessa stared.
She recognized the woman immediately.
It was her grandmother, Evelyn Hayes.
But that was impossible.
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Because according to every official record, Evelyn had been dead for nine years.
And the security footage was dated that very morning.
