Chapter 8: The Memory He Lost
Elijah sat down slowly.
The strength seemed to leave his body.
For years, he had believed the worst moment of his life was losing Renee.
Now he wondered if the worst part was that he couldn’t remember what happened before it.
Renee stood in front of him.
“What do you remember?””
Elijah looked at the floor.
“Pieces.””
The guests watched quietly.
No one wanted to interrupt.
Not anymore.
Elijah rubbed his forehead.
“I remember being angry.””
Renee’s expression softened.
“At me?””
He looked at her.
“No.””
That surprised her.
“I was angry because I found something.””
Marcus crossed his arms.
“What?””
Elijah closed his eyes.
“A file.””
Vanessa’s breathing changed.
Renee noticed immediately.
“What file?””
Elijah looked at Vanessa.
Her reaction answered before he spoke.
“The one connected to my company.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Elijah.””
“No.””
His voice became stronger.
“You knew about it.””
“I knew you were stressed.””
“You knew.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“I was trying to help you.””
Elijah stood.
“You were helping someone erase my memory?””
“No.””
“Then why were you there that night?””
The question hit her.
Vanessa looked around.
Everyone was waiting.
She looked at Noah.
Then at Elijah.
Then finally at Renee.
“I went because I was worried.””
Renee laughed quietly.
“Worried enough to follow him?””
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“I thought Elijah was making a mistake.””
Elijah stared.
“What mistake?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
The stranger did.
“He was going to expose everything.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You were involved.””
The man smiled.
“I was necessary.””
Renee stepped forward.
“You arranged the crash.””
The man didn’t deny it.
But he didn’t confirm it either.
Instead, he looked at Noah.
“Your mother found something she wasn’t supposed to find.””
Noah held Renee’s hand tighter.
“What?””
Renee looked at him.
She didn’t want him to hear.
But she knew she couldn’t hide anymore.
“A list.””
Elijah looked at her.
“A list of what?””
Renee swallowed.
“People who were paid to hide the truth.””
The room erupted.
Guests whispered.
Someone asked if they should call the police.
Marcus immediately moved toward the doors.
“Everyone stay calm.””
But Noah wasn’t listening.
He looked at his father.
“Dad…”
Elijah turned.
“I’m here.””
“Did you know?””
Elijah looked devastated.
“No.””
Noah looked at Renee.
“Did you?””
Renee hesitated.
That hesitation hurt.
“I found out after.””
Noah pulled his hand away.
“You both knew things.””
His voice shook.
“And nobody told me.””
Renee looked broken.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Noah looked at her.
“Everybody says that.””
The words cut deeper than anything else.
Renee knelt.
“I’m sorry.””
Noah didn’t answer.
For the first time since she returned, he looked unsure.
Like he didn’t know where he belonged.
Elijah walked toward him.
“Son.””
Noah looked up.
“I don’t want secrets anymore.””
Elijah nodded slowly.
“Neither do I.””
Behind them, Vanessa quietly moved toward the recorder.
Renee noticed.
“Vanessa.””
Everyone turned.
Vanessa stopped.
Her hand was inches away from the device.
“I just want to hear the rest.””
Renee stared.
“You know what’s on it.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“No.””
A tear appeared in her eyes.
“I know what I’m afraid is on it.””
The honesty shocked everyone.
Elijah stepped closer.
“What are you afraid of?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“That you’ll finally know I wasn’t the worst person in this room.””
Nobody spoke.
The stranger smiled.
“That’s true.””
Renee looked at him.
“Then who is?””
The man didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward the door.
Marcus immediately blocked him.
“You’re not leaving.””
The man stopped.
Then slowly smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
The sound came from inside the room.
Not from a person.
From a hidden device.
Marcus looked around.
Then his face changed.
“No.””
Renee looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus stared at the ceiling.
“The room is being monitored.””
The lights flickered.
The stranger smiled.
And from the speakers above them came a voice.
A voice that nobody expected to hear.
“Renee.””
May you like
She froze.
Because it was the voice of someone who was supposed to be gone.
