Chapter 13: The Woman Who Wasn't Supposed to Survive
"Michael! Get away from that woman!""
Robert Hayes's voice echoed through the downstairs hallway.
I stood frozen at the bedroom door, the photograph trembling in my hand.
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Don't listen to him.""
I turned toward her.
"Why did that message mention Claire?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because Robert knows what happened.""
"What happened?""
She opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, another voice came from the staircase.
"Michael?""
It was Samuel.
He appeared at the top of the stairs, breathing heavily.
Behind him stood Nia.
"Robert is downstairs," Samuel whispered.
"And he's not alone.""
My mother pulled me into the bedroom and locked the door.
"There's a back staircase," she said.
"It leads to the old garage.""
I stared at her.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me the truth.""
She closed her eyes.
Then she said something I never expected.
"Claire didn't die twelve years ago.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"She disappeared. Just like me.""
My mind raced.
"You're saying Samuel's mother is alive too?""
My mother nodded.
"She survived the hospital complications. Edward helped her disappear because she knew too much about the trust.""
Samuel stepped forward.
"Where is she?""
My mother shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Samuel's face twisted.
"You expect me to believe you?""
"I saw her once, many years ago. She was living under another name.""
"Why didn't you tell my father?""
"Because Edward threatened to take you away permanently.""
Samuel looked devastated.
"Everyone keeps saying they protected me. Nobody ever asked what I wanted.""
My mother reached for him.
He stepped back.
I understood his anger.
We had both grown up believing important people had died.
We had both spent years grieving people who were still alive.
And every person who claimed to love us had used that love as an excuse to lie.
A loud knock interrupted us.
"Michael!"" Robert shouted.
"Open the door!""
I looked toward the hallway.
My mother whispered, "He knows about the recording.""
I turned.
"Why does he want it?""
"Because it contains his voice.""
I frowned.
"What did he say?""
My mother swallowed.
"He was the driver.""
I stared at her.
"Robert drove the car that hit you?""
She nodded.
"He was supposed to frighten me. Edward wanted the documents. Robert wanted the money. They never intended for me to survive.""
My stomach turned.
"And Dad?""
"He gave them the location. He didn't know Robert was going to ram the car.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father.
Robert.
Vanessa.
Three days before the accident.
"What was Vanessa doing there?""
My mother looked away.
"She was supposed to help Robert get rid of the evidence afterward.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because Daniel had stolen money from the company. Robert promised to erase his debts if Vanessa cooperated.""
I remembered the photograph from the hospital.
Vanessa beside Daniel.
The insurance documents.
The guardianship papers.
Everything was connected.
But one question remained.
"Why was Vanessa supposed to die too?""
My mother hesitated.
"Because she changed her mind.""
I stared at her.
"Explain.""
"Vanessa was pregnant at the time. She discovered that Robert planned to kill everyone who knew about the original transfers. She tried to withdraw from the arrangement.""
"And he attacked her?""
My mother nodded.
"She was involved in the accident that night, but she wasn't in the second car. Robert arranged another vehicle to intercept her afterward.""
I remembered Vanessa's confession.
She had said she didn't know I would die.
Perhaps she had been telling the truth about one part.
But it didn't erase the years of deception.
A crash sounded outside the bedroom.
Then a gunshot.
Samuel pulled Nia toward the back staircase.
My mother grabbed my hand.
"Go!""
We hurried down the narrow steps.
At the bottom, the old garage door was partially open.
A black SUV sat outside.
The driver's door opened.
Vanessa stepped out.
I stopped.
"What are you doing here?""
She looked at my mother.
Then at me.
"Getting you out.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Why should I trust you?""
"Because Robert has a gun.""
She pointed toward the house.
A second shot rang out.
Nia gasped.
Vanessa opened the rear door.
"Get in!""
Samuel hesitated.
"Why are you helping us?""
Vanessa looked at him.
"Because I owe you an apology that I can never repay.""
Samuel stared at her.
"You sold me.""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
"You let me grow up believing nobody wanted me.""
"Yes.""
"And now you want me to trust you?""
"No," she whispered.
"I want you to survive long enough to hate me tomorrow.""
I looked toward the house.
A figure appeared in the garage entrance.
Robert.
He was holding a handgun.
"Vanessa!"" he shouted.
She pushed us toward the SUV.
"GO!""
I climbed into the passenger seat.
Samuel and Nia got into the back.
My mother followed.
Vanessa started the engine.
Robert raised his weapon.
The windshield shattered.
I ducked.
Vanessa slammed her foot against the accelerator.
The SUV shot forward, crashing through the wooden gate.
We didn't stop until we reached the main road.
My mother was crying.
Samuel sat motionless.
Nia pressed a hand against her forehead.
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Where are we going?""
"Somewhere Robert can't find us.""
"Where?""
She glanced at me.
"To the person who can prove everything.""
"Who?""
She swallowed.
"Claire.""
Samuel suddenly leaned forward.
"My mother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She's alive.""
Samuel began crying.
"Where is she?""
Vanessa's voice broke.
"At a private care facility outside the city.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she has been hiding from Edward for twelve years.""
Samuel grabbed the back of her seat.
"Take me to her.""
Vanessa nodded.
But before she could turn onto the highway, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face drained of color.
I saw the caller's name.
*Daniel.*
She answered on speaker.
"Daniel?""
His voice sounded frantic.
"Where are you?""
"Why?""
"Because Robert has lost control.""
"What happened?""
"He found out about the second recording.""
Vanessa gripped the steering wheel.
"What second recording?""
There was a pause.
Then Daniel said:
"The one Claire made before she disappeared.""
Samuel leaned forward.
"What does it contain?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Proof that the person who ordered the accident wasn't Robert.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was trembling.
"Who was it?"" I demanded.
Daniel hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"Your father.""
The call disconnected.
I stared through the shattered windshield.
May you like
My mother sat beside me, crying silently.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the truth we had spent twelve years searching for was even more terrible than the lies.
