Chapter 11: The Mother I Never Knew
I held up my phone.
Daniel didn’t need to read the message.
His expression told me everything.
“You knew.””
His eyes dropped.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You knew about my mother?””
He stayed silent.
That was enough.
I stepped forward.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Not because it surprised me.
Because everyone kept choosing when I deserved the truth.
“Tell me.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“It’s complicated.””
I almost laughed.
“Everything with you people is complicated.””
Maya looked between us.
“Who was my grandmother?””
I looked at her.
I didn’t know how to answer.
Because I didn’t know either.
My mother disappeared when I was a child.
That was the story I grew up with.
She left.
My father raised me alone.
That was all I knew.
“She wasn’t who your father said she was.””
I stared at Daniel.
“What does that mean?””
“Your mother wasn’t missing.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She was hiding.””
The words felt impossible.
I sat down slowly.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the old document.
“Because she knew someone was trying to get access to your father’s work.””
I shook my head.
“My father told me she left.””
“He thought he was protecting you.””
I looked away.
Another secret.
Another lie told for my own good.
“What happened to her?””
Daniel hesitated.
“She’s alive.””
Maya gasped.
I couldn’t speak.
My mother.
The woman I spent my entire life believing abandoned me.
Alive.
“Where?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
I stood immediately.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“Then why tell me?””
“Because Bianca knows.””
That sentence froze me.
I looked at my phone.
The message suddenly felt different.
She wasn’t just trying to scare me.
She was telling me she had information.
Information she had probably kept hidden for years.
Maya whispered:
“Dad…”
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Does Bianca know where she is?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I was afraid the answer was yes.
My phone rang.
This time, it wasn’t unknown.
It was Bianca.
I stared at the screen.
Daniel said quietly:
“Don’t answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because she wants control of the conversation.””
I answered anyway.
“Hello.””
Bianca’s voice came immediately.
“I wondered how long it would take.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is my mother?””
Silence.
Then a soft laugh.
“So Daniel finally told you.””
“Where is she?””
“Still asking the wrong questions.””
My jaw tightened.
“Try me.””
She sighed.
“You always were emotional when it came to family.””
I looked at Maya.
Then Lily’s bedroom door.
“You hurt my children.””
“I protected them.””
My anger exploded.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You controlled them.””
Bianca became quiet.
Then she said:
“You really think I’m the villain?””
“Yes.””
Another pause.
Then she laughed.
“You’re still so easy to manipulate.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
“I want what was promised.””
“What was promised?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she said:
“Ask Daniel why your father trusted him.””
I looked at Daniel.
His face changed.
Bianca continued.
“Ask him why he was around your family before I was.””
My heart dropped.
“What?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Marcus, don’t listen—”
Bianca interrupted.
“There’s your proof.””
I froze.
“You’re both hiding things.””
The line went silent for a moment.
Then Bianca whispered:
“The difference is…”
A pause.
“…I’m the only one who will admit it.””
The call ended.
I lowered the phone.
Maya looked at me.
“Dad?””
I looked at Daniel.
“Were you involved with my family before I met you?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
And that was the moment I knew.
The biggest secret wasn’t Bianca.
It wasn’t Ethan.
May you like
It wasn’t even the trust.
It was Daniel.
