Chapter 8: My Mother's Best Friend Had Been Lying Too
The drive back to the mansion felt endless.
My father sat in the front passenger seat, staring at his phone.
Olivia and I sat in the back.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, Olivia turned toward me.
“Do you think Margaret really betrayed Mom?””
I looked out the window.
“I don't know.””
“She was supposed to protect her.””
“I know.””
Olivia rubbed her hands together.
“Everyone keeps saying they were protecting someone. But nobody protected us.””
I reached for her hand.
She squeezed mine.
When we arrived, the front gates were open.
Two security guards stood beside the driveway.
My father stepped out before Thomas had fully stopped the SUV.
“Where are they?””
The guard pointed toward the living room.
“Inside, sir.””
We entered together.
Vanessa stood beside the fireplace, holding a glass of water.
Margaret was sitting on the sofa.
She looked almost exactly as I remembered from my childhood photographs. Silver hair. Thin glasses. A navy coat buttoned to the throat.
When she saw me, she stood.
“Emily.””
I didn't return her greeting.
“Why are you here?””
Margaret looked at my father.
“Arthur, I can explain.””
My father pointed toward the security footage displayed on the television.
“You have five minutes.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Honestly, Arthur, you're becoming dramatic.””
He turned toward her.
“Why did you come back?””
“Because I live here.””
“Not anymore.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Be careful, Arthur.””
My father stepped closer.
“You have no idea how careful I've been.””
Margaret raised both hands.
“Please. We need to calm down.””
I looked directly at her.
“Did you arrange my mother's disappearance?””
She closed her eyes.
That was all the answer I needed.
Olivia stepped forward.
“You helped Vanessa steal me?””
Margaret looked at her.
“Olivia, I never wanted you hurt.””
“You knew I was alive?””
“Yes.””
Olivia's face twisted.
“And you let me grow up believing my mother was dead?””
Margaret began crying.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
Olivia let out a bitter laugh.
“I'm tired of hearing that.””
Vanessa placed her glass on the mantelpiece.
“This is pointless. Margaret, tell them what you came to say.””
Margaret looked at her.
“Not now.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“You promised.””
My father caught the exchange.
“Promised what?””
Margaret slowly opened her handbag.
She removed a thick envelope and placed it on the coffee table.
“Six years ago, Catherine discovered that Vanessa had been using forged documents to transfer ownership of company assets.””
My father nodded.
“We know that.””
“No,” Margaret said.
“You don't know everything.””
She opened the envelope.
Inside were photographs, medical records, and a series of signed statements.
“Catherine came to me because she believed someone was poisoning her.””
The room went silent.
My father stepped closer.
“What?””
Margaret nodded.
“She had become increasingly ill. She suffered dizzy spells, memory lapses, and unexplained weakness. Doctors kept telling her it was stress.””
Olivia covered her mouth.
“Who was doing it?””
Margaret looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“This is insane.””
Margaret continued.
“I suspected someone was putting medication in Catherine's food. I asked her to stop eating meals prepared by the household staff.””
My father looked horrified.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she believed you were being drugged too.””
My father's expression changed.
He remembered something.
“I was sick for months,” he whispered.
Margaret nodded.
“You were both receiving medication from the same private physician.””
Robert, who had arrived shortly after us, opened his briefcase.
“Was it Dr. Pierce?””
Margaret nodded.
“He was the physician Vanessa introduced to the family.””
My father turned toward his wife.
“Is that true?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Dr. Pierce was a perfectly respectable doctor.””
“Did you arrange his payments?””
“I don't remember.””
Margaret removed a bank statement.
“Perhaps this will help.””
She placed it on the table.
The document showed several payments made to a private medical company.
The account holder was Daniel Reed.
The recipient was Dr. Malcolm Pierce.
And the payment description contained one word.
*Sedation.*
My father stared at it.
“Why?””
Margaret looked down.
“Because Catherine had started asking questions. They wanted her confused enough to doubt her own memories.””
Olivia took a step backward.
I felt her hand trembling.
“That's why Mom disappeared?””
Margaret nodded.
“Vanessa arranged for Catherine to be transferred to a private medical facility under a false identity. Daniel paid the doctor. I was instructed to handle the legal paperwork.””
My father grabbed the back of a chair.
“You helped them?””
Margaret began sobbing.
“I was threatened.””
“By whom?””
She looked at Vanessa.
“She told me that if I refused, my son would be arrested for a crime he didn't commit.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“Stop talking.””
Margaret flinched.
My father stepped toward her.
“What did you do with my wife?””
“I helped her escape the facility six months ago.””
I stared at her.
“Then why didn't you bring her home?””
“Because Catherine refused.””
“Why?””
Margaret looked toward the staircase.
“She believed Vanessa had someone inside the house.””
I remembered my mother's letter.
Someone closer to my family than I ever imagined.
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Margaret shook her head.
“Catherine never told me the name. She only said that the person had access to every room, every document, and every family secret.””
My father looked around the living room.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“You.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You're becoming paranoid.””
Margaret suddenly stood.
“Arthur, listen to me. There is something else.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small photograph.
It showed my father standing beside Daniel at a company event.
Behind them stood a young man wearing a security uniform.
I recognized him.
It was Thomas.
My father's driver.
Margaret pointed at the photograph.
“Thomas was the person who collected Catherine's medication from the clinic.””
My father went still.
“No.””
Margaret nodded.
“He was paid by Daniel.””
I looked toward the entrance.
Thomas was standing near the hallway.
He had heard everything.
His face was expressionless.
My father turned.
“Thomas?””
The driver slowly lowered his eyes.
“I'm sorry, sir.””
My father stared at him.
“How long?””
Thomas swallowed.
“Six years.””
Olivia stepped forward.
“You knew my mother was alive?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told us?””
Thomas didn't answer.
My father pointed toward the front door.
“Get out.””
Thomas nodded.
But before he could move, Vanessa suddenly grabbed the envelope from the table.
She tore several pages in half.
“Enough!””
My father lunged forward.
“Vanessa!””
She threw the papers into the fireplace.
The flames caught immediately.
Margaret screamed.
“Those are the original medical records!””
Vanessa stepped back, breathing hard.
Then she looked at my father.
“You should have listened to me, Arthur.””
He stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled.
“Your wife isn't the only person who disappeared.””
She pulled a small remote control from her pocket.
May you like
And pressed a button.
Every light in the mansion went out.
Related Stories
