Chapter 13: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
“Because I think it’s time Maya knows what really happened to her mother.””
Thomas’s voice came from downstairs.
Calm.
Confident.
Like he had walked into this house a hundred times.
Like he still believed he belonged here.
My father stood frozen at the top of the staircase.
I had never seen him look afraid before.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Afraid.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
His eyes stayed fixed on the hallway below.
Thomas had always been part of my childhood memories.
The man who brought birthday gifts.
The man who laughed with my father during family dinners.
The man who called me “kiddo” and told me I was going to make my mother proud.
Now every memory felt different.
Like someone had taken an old photograph and scratched something across the surface.
Marcus slowly walked downstairs.
Everyone followed.
Nobody spoke.
Thomas stood in the living room.
Older now.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
The same friendly smile.
The same smile that suddenly made my skin crawl.
“Marcus.””
My father stopped several feet away.
“Why are you here?””
Thomas looked around.
Then at the broken photograph.
Then at the memory card.
“I see you finally found it.””
My father’s face hardened.
“You knew about it.””
Thomas sighed.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t have to.””
The words made the room colder.
“You were hoping?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You knew my wife left something behind.””
Thomas looked at him.
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Thomas looked at me.
“Maya.””
I stepped back.
“Don’t.””
His expression changed.
“I know this is difficult.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You don’t get to act like you understand.””
Thomas looked hurt.
But I didn’t care.
Not anymore.
“You were there.””
His face changed slightly.
The smallest reaction.
But I saw it.
“You were there when my mother died.””
The room went silent.
Thomas looked at Marcus.
Then away.
“I was.””
My father’s voice dropped.
“Tell me what happened.””
Thomas sighed.
“Maya’s mother was struggling.””
My hands curled.
“She was sick.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Yes.””
Thomas nodded.
“She was under pressure.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“That’s not the whole story.””
Thomas looked annoyed.
“You always were dramatic.””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“No. I was there.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What are you both hiding?””
Nobody answered.
Then Elena spoke.
“Your wife found out Thomas had been lying.””
Thomas’s expression changed.
Marcus turned.
“About what?””
Elena looked at Thomas.
“About the money.””
The room went silent.
My father frowned.
“What money?””
Thomas didn’t move.
Marcus looked at him.
“Thomas.””
Still nothing.
Then my father’s face changed.
“No.””
Thomas looked at him.
“Marcus—”
“No.””
His voice became quiet.
“You used me.””
Thomas shook his head.
“I helped you.””
“You used my company.””
“I saved your company.””
“You manipulated my decisions.””
Thomas looked away.
That was enough.
My father’s silence said everything.
I looked at him.
“Dad?””
He swallowed.
“I didn’t know.””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your father didn’t know a lot of things.””
The cruelty in his voice shocked me.
My father stared.
“Why?””
Thomas smiled sadly.
“Because you trusted people.””
Nobody spoke.
Thomas walked toward the table.
“Your mother was the same.””
My father’s expression changed.
“Don’t talk about her.””
“She thought she could expose me.””
Elena stepped forward.
“She tried to stop you.””
Thomas looked at her.
“She made mistakes.””
My heart started pounding.
“What did you do?””
Thomas looked at me.
For a second, he looked almost sorry.
Then he said:
“I tried to fix the situation.””
My father went still.
“What situation?””
Thomas looked at the memory card.
“Your wife was going to ruin everything.””
Cassandra whispered:
“Thomas.””
Everyone looked at her.
Thomas smiled.
“There she is.””
Cassandra looked terrified.
“You told me you would handle it.””
My father turned sharply.
“What?””
Thomas’s face remained calm.
Cassandra immediately looked away.
“You knew him?””
Thomas answered.
“We worked together.””
My father stared at his wife.
“You worked with him?””
Cassandra closed her eyes.
“I was trying to get away from Adrian.””
Thomas laughed.
“You always tell yourself that.””
Cassandra looked at him.
“You promised nobody would get hurt.””
The room froze.
Marcus looked at her.
“Cassandra.””
She looked at him.
“I never wanted this.””
Thomas shook his head.
“But you helped.””
The words crushed her.
I finally understood.
Everyone in the room had a piece of the truth.
Everyone had been carrying a secret.
My mother had been the only person trying to put them together.
My father picked up the memory card.
“Then I’m playing this.””
Thomas’s expression changed.
“No.””
The reaction was instant.
Too instant.
Marcus noticed.
“You’re afraid.””
Thomas didn’t answer.
My father looked at him.
“Why?””
Thomas’s silence was the answer.
Marcus connected the card.
The laptop screen lit up.
One file appeared.
The same recording.
But this time, there was another section.
A hidden section.
My mother’s voice played.
“If you are hearing this part…”
Everyone leaned closer.
Her voice trembled.
“Then Thomas knows.””
My father closed his eyes.
Thomas stepped back.
My mother continued.
“I wanted to believe I was wrong.””
A pause.
“But I wasn’t.””
Marcus looked at Thomas.
My mother’s voice became quieter.
“Thomas is not acting alone.””
The room stopped.
Cassandra whispered:
“No.””
The recording continued.
“There is one more person.””
My father stared at the screen.
The next words were almost impossible to hear.
But everyone heard them.
“The person closest to Maya.””
The video ended.
Nobody moved.
Then my father slowly looked around the room.
And everyone realized the same thing.
May you like
The mystery wasn’t who betrayed my mother.
It was who had been protecting the betrayer.
