Chapter 9: The Truth Angela Hid From Everyone
Nobody moved after the screen went black.
Not Victor.
Not Marcus.
Not Damien.
Not me.
The last words my mother spoke echoed through the room.
*The man standing beside you is not who you think he is.*
I looked at Victor.
The man who found me outside the graduation fence.
The man who cried when he saw my bracelet.
The man who told me he searched for me.
The man I wanted to believe was my father.
But my mother’s voice was the one voice I had trusted my entire life.
And she had just warned me.
“Jaylen…”
Victor’s voice sounded broken.
I stepped back.
“Don’t.””
He stopped.
The pain on his face was real.
But I had learned something over the past few hours.
Real emotions didn’t always mean the truth.
“Did you know she was alive?””
Victor shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know she would contact me?””
“No.””
“Did you know she would say that?””
His silence lasted half a second too long.
And I noticed.
My chest tightened.
“You hesitated.””
Victor looked away.
“I was trying to understand what happened.””
“That’s not an answer.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Jaylen.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
His expression was complicated.
“You need to be careful.””
I looked around the room.
“Careful of who?””
Nobody answered.
That was becoming a pattern.
Damien slowly walked toward the screen.
For the first time since he entered, he looked uncertain.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
His eyes moved toward me.
“Angela wasn’t supposed to contact you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“You knew she might?””
Damien looked away.
Not denial.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“Where is she?””
Nobody answered.
I stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?””
Damien’s expression hardened.
“I don’t know.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“I’m done with people who don’t know.””
I pointed at the files.
“My mother disappeared.””
I pointed at Victor.
“You lost me.””
I pointed at Marcus.
“You knew things I never knew.””
Then I looked at Damien.
“And you destroyed my family.””
My breathing became uneven.
“But somehow I’m still the only person who doesn’t have the truth.””
The room went quiet.
Then Principal Harris spoke.
“Maybe it’s time.””
Everyone looked at her.
She stepped forward slowly.
“Maybe it’s time Jaylen knows everything.””
Victor looked at her.
“Marianne.””
“No.””
Her voice was firm.
“I protected him because Angela asked me to.””
She looked at me.
“But I think she would want you to know now.””
She walked to the table.
She opened the oldest file.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
A small envelope.
She placed it in front of me.
“This was found with you the night you were recovered.””
I looked at the envelope.
My name was written on the front.
*For Jaylen.*
My hands started shaking.
“Why didn’t you give me this?””
Principal Harris looked heartbroken.
“Because Angela made me promise.””
I opened it slowly.
Inside was a letter.
My mother’s handwriting.
The moment I saw it, my eyes burned.
My dear Jaylen,
If you are reading this, then I couldn’t come back when I promised I would.
I stopped.
My vision blurred.
I kept reading.
First, I need you to know something.
I never left because I wanted to.
I left because staying would have put a target on your back.
A tear slipped down my face.
I continued.
There are people who will tell you different stories about me. Some will say I was weak. Some will say I ran. Some will say I betrayed the people I loved.
But the truth is simple.
I chose you.
I pressed the letter against the table.
My mother.
Always me.
Always protecting me.
The next words made my hands freeze.
The biggest danger in your life is not Damien Carter.
I looked up.
Everyone was watching me.
I read the next line.
It’s not Victor either.
My heart stopped.
I continued.
The person you need to fear is the person who has been controlling both of them.
My eyes moved across the page.
A name was written.
A name I had never heard before.
*Richard Vale.*
I looked up.
“Who is Richard Vale?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Victor’s face changed.
And I knew.
He knew.
“Victor.””
His eyes closed.
“I hoped you would never hear that name.””
“Who is he?””
Victor looked at Damien.
Then Marcus.
Then me.
“Richard Vale was Damien’s closest advisor.””
Damien’s expression darkened.
“Do not blame me for his actions.””
Victor ignored him.
“He handled everything Damien didn’t want connected to his name.””
My stomach tightened.
“Meaning?””
Marcus answered.
“Meaning he was the person who made problems disappear.””
The room became colder.
My mother’s letter continued.
Richard knows the truth about your birth.
He knows about your father.
He knows about your brother.
And he knows where I am.
I stopped reading.
“Where you are?””
Everyone looked at me.
I pointed at the letter.
“She wrote this knowing she was alive.””
Principal Harris nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
My heart raced.
“She knew she might contact me.””
Victor stepped closer.
“Jaylen…”
I looked at him.
“What else?””
His face fell.
“There’s more.””
Of course there was.
There was always more.
I turned the page.
The next sentence was short.
But it changed everything.
I didn’t leave you with Victor.
I left you with someone who could protect you from him.
I looked up.
The room went silent.
Victor looked confused.
“What?””
My hands shook.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Jaylen…”
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Explain.””
He stared at the letter.
Then at Victor.
Then back at me.
“Your mother wasn’t protecting you from Damien.””
My breathing slowed.
“Then who?””
Marcus looked at Victor.
“She was protecting you from your father.””
The room exploded.
Victor’s expression changed instantly.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Damien looked confused.
Even he didn’t seem to know.
I looked at Victor.
“You?””
Victor shook his head.
“No.””
But his voice sounded less certain than before.
“I would never hurt Angela.””
“Then why did she write this?””
“I don’t know.””
“That’s not enough!””
My voice broke.
“I need the truth!””
Victor took a step forward.
“Jaylen, listen to me.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
The pain on his face was unbearable.
But I couldn’t stop.
Because the person I wanted to trust was suddenly the person I needed answers from.
Then the front door opened.
Everyone turned.
A man walked inside.
Older.
Wearing a dark suit.
Calm.
Confident.
Like he had been invited.
Victor went completely still.
Damien whispered:
“No.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, everyone.””
Marcus immediately recognized him.
His face turned pale.
“Richard.””
The man looked at me.
And smiled.
“Finally.””
My stomach dropped.
“You’re Jaylen Carter.””
Nobody moved.
Richard Vale slowly walked into the room.
“I’ve spent years making sure you stayed hidden.””
I stared.
“Why?””
His smile disappeared.
“Because your mother made one mistake.””
“What?””
He looked directly at me.
“She trusted the wrong man.””
His eyes moved toward Victor.
And then he said the words that destroyed everything.
“Jaylen…”
“Your father didn’t lose you.””
May you like
A pause.
“He took you.””
