Chapter 13: The Call I Waited a Lifetime For
The phone kept ringing.
My mother’s name stared back at me.
A name I had spent decades wishing would appear.
A name I had convinced myself would never appear.
I couldn’t move.
Maya stood beside me, watching my face.
“Dad…”
I swallowed.
“What if it’s not her?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone in that room knew the truth.
It could be another lie.
Another trick.
Another person trying to control me.
But there was one thing I couldn’t ignore.
The name.
My mother’s name.
I pressed answer.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a voice.
A voice older than the one I remembered.
But still familiar.
“Marcus?””
My knees almost gave out.
I sat down slowly.
“Mom?””
The word felt strange.
Like something I had forgotten how to say.
On the other end, I heard a shaky breath.
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
All the anger I carried for years.
All the questions.
All the nights wondering why she left.
They crashed into each other at once.
“Where were you?””
My voice cracked.
“Why did you leave?””
There was silence.
Then:
“I didn’t.””
I looked at Daniel.
He lowered his eyes.
My mother continued.
“Your father told everyone I left because he thought it would keep you safe.””
“Safe from what?””
Her voice became quieter.
“From people who wanted what your father created.””
I stood.
“Bianca?””
A pause.
“She found you.””
My stomach tightened.
“She knew about me before we met?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Maya.
“She was sent.””
My mother sighed.
“Marcus, I’m sorry.””
“No.””
My voice became sharper.
“I spent my whole life thinking you abandoned me.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe that.””
“I had no choice.””
I walked toward the window.
“There is always a choice.””
The words came out harder than I intended.
The silence afterward hurt.
Then she said:
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
“I was afraid.””
I stopped.
“My whole life?””
“Yes.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Your father was afraid too. He thought if people believed I was gone, they would stop looking.””
“Who?””
“The people who wanted his research.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Ethan.””
My mother went silent.
That was enough.
“You know him.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“He was one of your father’s closest partners.””
My hands tightened.
“Everyone knew.””
“Not everyone.””
I looked around the room.
At the life I built.
At the family I almost lost.
“Why come back now?””
My mother didn’t answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Because Bianca made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“She became too confident.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“She believed Marcus would never discover the truth.””
I looked at Maya.
My daughter.
The person Bianca underestimated.
My mother continued:
“But Maya changed everything.””
Maya looked surprised.
“How does she know about me?””
I put the phone on speaker.
My mother’s voice filled the room.
“Maya?””
Maya froze.
“Yes.””
“You protected your sister when adults failed.””
Maya’s eyes filled.
My mother continued:
“I’m proud of you.””
Maya covered her mouth.
For the first time in days, I saw her stop carrying everything alone.
Then my mother said:
“You need to listen carefully.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“Bianca doesn’t just have information about the trust.””
“What else?””
“She has access.””
I frowned.
“To what?””
“Your company.””
My heart sank.
“She has been moving money.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“How much?””
My mother answered:
“Enough to destroy everything if she succeeds.””
I looked at Daniel.
“How do we stop her?””
A pause.
Then my mother said:
“You need the original agreement.””
“What agreement?””
“The one your father hid.””
I looked at the documents.
“The trust?””
“No.””
Her voice became serious.
“The agreement between your father and Ethan.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“You know where it is?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
My mother hesitated.
Then:
“Inside the house.””
I looked around.
“What?””
“Your father knew someone would eventually come looking.””
I felt a chill.
“He hid the truth where you would find it.””
My eyes moved across the room.
The dining room.
The place where Bianca’s plan started falling apart.
My mother whispered:
“Marcus…”
“Yes?””
“Don’t trust anyone who knew about your father before you did.””
The call suddenly ended.
I stared at the phone.
The room was silent.
Then Daniel spoke.
“She’s right.””
I looked at him.
“About what?””
His face was pale.
“There’s something I never told you.””
I already knew I wouldn’t like it.
“What?””
Daniel looked toward the dining room wall.
“Your father didn’t hide the agreement.””
A pause.
“He gave it to someone.””
I waited.
“Who?””
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
“Me.””
