Chapter 13: The Night My Mother Died
I read the email three times.
Your mother knew Sentinel would come after you. Ask your father what happened on the night she died.
The words seemed to move across the screen.
I slowly raised my eyes toward Dad.
He stood beside the window, his hands buried in his pockets.
"Is it true?""
He didn't answer.
"Did something happen the night Mom died?""
Dad closed his eyes.
Eleanor carefully placed the legal documents back into her briefcase.
"Daniel, I think you need to explain.""
He looked at me.
"I never told you because I thought I was protecting you.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Vanessa said it. You said it. Mom's entire company apparently used that excuse.""
"Maya—"
"No. I want the truth.""
Dad sat down.
For a long moment, he stared at the floor.
Then he began.
"Three weeks before your mother died, Jonathan Price contacted her. He wanted to purchase the Aurora Framework. Your mother refused. After that, he started making threats.""
"What kind of threats?""
"He said Sentinel had investors who wouldn't tolerate losing such an opportunity. He warned her that if she didn't cooperate, he would make sure her company collapsed.""
Richard Coleman nodded.
"I remember those calls.""
Dad continued.
"On the night your mother died, Vanessa called me. She said there had been an emergency at the old laboratory. She told me your mother was there and needed me.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because when I arrived, your mother was already in the hospital.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She had collapsed after an argument with Vanessa. The doctors said she had suffered a serious medical emergency. They couldn't save her.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Was Vanessa responsible?""
Dad looked at me.
"I don't know.""
"Did she hurt Mom?""
"I never saw anyone touch her.""
"Then why did that email say you knew something?""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
It was a copy of an old email.
The sender was Vanessa.
The recipient was Martin Reeves.
The date was the night my mother died.
I read the message.
Elizabeth has refused again. Daniel is on his way. Make sure the original files are secured before anyone else arrives.
My hands began to tremble.
There was another line.
The situation is getting out of control.
I looked at Dad.
"You saw this?""
He nodded.
"I found it in Vanessa's email account months later. I confronted her. She told me it was about company documents, not your mother.""
"And you believed her?""
"No.""
His voice broke.
"But by then, I was terrified. I had lost your mother. I was trying to keep you safe. Vanessa told me that if I accused her without proof, she'd make sure I lost everything in the divorce, including access to you.""
I stared at him.
"So you stayed.""
He nodded.
"I convinced myself I could watch her. I thought if I stayed close, I could stop her from doing anything worse.""
"And instead, she stole my robot.""
Dad looked down.
"Yes.""
I turned away.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to ask why he hadn't taken me and left.
But the answer wouldn't change anything.
Eleanor broke the silence.
"Daniel, the email may be important, but we need to establish exactly what happened that night. Did you speak to Elizabeth before she collapsed?""
Dad nodded.
"Briefly.""
"What did she say?""
He looked at me.
"She told me she had hidden something. She said Vanessa was going to destroy the company records and that I needed to make sure you received the Aurora Framework when you were old enough.""
My eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"She also made me promise something.""
"What?""
Dad's voice became barely audible.
"She told me not to let you become responsible for her fight.""
I swallowed.
"She didn't want me involved?""
"She wanted you to have a normal childhood. She wanted you to build things because you loved building things, not because you had to fight for an inheritance.""
I looked at the old email again.
Then I noticed something.
A timestamp.
The message had been sent at 8:42 p.m.
But the hospital record showed my mother had been admitted at 8:19 p.m.
I pointed it out.
"Why did Vanessa send this after Mom was already at the hospital?""
Richard leaned forward.
"That's an important question.""
Dad frowned.
"Maybe the email was delayed.""
Eleanor examined the header.
"Possibly. We'll have a forensic specialist verify the metadata.""
Then Dad said something that made the room go silent.
"There was another person at the laboratory that night.""
I turned.
"Who?""
Dad looked toward Richard.
"Jonathan Price.""
Richard stood abruptly.
"Are you certain?""
Dad nodded.
"I saw his car outside.""
I felt cold.
"Did you tell the police?""
"I didn't know he was there until I arrived. Vanessa told me he had come to discuss a business proposal.""
Eleanor closed her notebook.
"Then we have a serious matter to investigate.""
Dad looked at me.
"I know this doesn't change anything. But I need you to understand that I never wanted your mother hurt.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"I believe you didn't want her hurt.""
He looked relieved for a second.
Then I continued.
"But you let someone who might have been involved in what happened to her stay in our home.""
His face crumpled.
"I know.""
The following morning, we arrived at the courthouse.
Vanessa was already there.
She wore a cream-colored suit and carried a leather briefcase.
Brielle stood several feet away from her.
When Vanessa saw us, she approached.
"Daniel.""
Dad didn't respond.
She looked at me.
"Maya, I hope you've reconsidered.""
I stared at her.
"You threatened Richard Coleman.""
Her expression didn't change.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"We have your letter.""
She smiled.
"Then perhaps you should ask your lawyer what happens when an unverified letter is presented as evidence.""
Brielle stepped forward.
"Mom, stop.""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Not now.""
"I'm not going to lie for you anymore.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"I do.""
Brielle looked at me.
"I know I helped you steal something that wasn't mine. And I'm going to tell the court everything.""
Vanessa's composure cracked.
"You're my daughter.""
Brielle swallowed.
"That doesn't make what you did right.""
A court officer called our names.
Eleanor touched my shoulder.
"Let's go.""
The hearing began with Vantage's attorney presenting the company's ownership claim.
He displayed the disputed agreement signed by Dad.
He presented Martin Reeves's declaration.
He showed photographs of Brielle holding A.R.I.A. during the competition.
Then he turned toward the judge.
"Your Honor, Vantage Intelligent Systems has maintained and developed the technology for years. The plaintiff's claim is based on personal sentiment, not verifiable ownership.""
Eleanor stood.
"With respect, Your Honor, we have original trust documents, shareholder records, financial evidence, and authenticated development archives proving otherwise.""
The judge looked toward her.
"Proceed.""
Eleanor presented the trust deed.
Then the original shareholder register.
Then my mother's development records.
The courtroom became quieter with every document.
But when Eleanor introduced the recording from the old laboratory, Vanessa's attorney objected.
He argued that the recording had not yet been fully authenticated.
The judge agreed to reserve a decision on its admissibility pending verification.
I felt my hope slipping.
Then Eleanor called Brielle.
Brielle walked to the witness stand.
Vanessa stared at her.
"State your name," the court clerk instructed.
"Brielle Carter.""
"Do you understand that you are required to tell the truth?""
"Yes.""
Brielle looked toward me.
Then she turned to the judge.
"My mother gave me a robot and told me to present it as my own invention. She knew Maya had built it. She knew because she'd taken it from Maya's workshop.""
A murmur spread through the courtroom.
Vanessa's attorney stood.
"Objection.""
The judge raised a hand.
"Let her continue.""
Brielle took a breath.
"I wanted to win. I wanted my mother to be proud of me. But I knew it wasn't mine.""
Vanessa whispered something to her lawyer.
Brielle continued.
"And after the competition, my mother told me to remove the memory card because it contained evidence of how the robot had been taken.""
The judge leaned forward.
"Did you remove it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Brielle looked at me.
"Because Maya deserved to have her work recognized.""
Then Eleanor displayed the messages between Vanessa and Brielle.
One message contained a sentence that made everyone in the courtroom turn toward Vanessa.
If Maya gets in our way, make sure the judges think she's unstable.
The judge removed his glasses.
"Mrs. Carter, you may want to discuss these communications with your counsel.""
Vanessa said nothing.
But when Eleanor introduced the final document, her face changed completely.
It was the letter Richard Coleman had received.
The $150,000 offer.
And the handwritten threat.
For the first time, Vanessa looked frightened.
Then the courtroom doors opened.
A man in a dark navy suit entered.
Jonathan Price.
He walked toward the front row and handed a folder to his attorney.
Eleanor noticed him.
So did the judge.
"Mr. Price, are you connected to these proceedings?""
Jonathan stood.
"Yes, Your Honor. Sentinel Dynamics has a financial interest in the proposed acquisition.""
The judge looked at him.
"Then I suggest you remain available. Your involvement may become relevant.""
Jonathan nodded.
But as he sat down, he looked directly at me.
May you like
He smiled.
And I suddenly understood that Vanessa wasn't the only person who had something to lose.
