Chapter 10: My Mother's Terrible Secret
I read the message three times.
Then I called my mother.
She didn't answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Daniel stood beside the window, looking down the street.
"Marcus, we need to know where she is.""
I called her neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, who lived two houses away.
She answered immediately.
"Hello, Marcus.""
"Have you seen my mother today?""
"Actually, yes. She left about twenty minutes ago.""
"Did she say where she was going?""
Mrs. Peterson hesitated.
"She said she was meeting someone.""
"Who?""
"I don't know. But she looked frightened.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did she leave alone?""
"Yes. She was driving her old blue sedan.""
I thanked her and ended the call.
Daniel grabbed his keys.
"Let's go.""
We drove toward my mother's house first.
Her driveway was empty.
I ran inside using the spare key she had given me years earlier.
Everything looked normal.
Her reading glasses sat on the kitchen counter. A half-finished cup of tea rested beside a newspaper.
But something was missing.
The small wooden box that had belonged to Elena.
I recognized it immediately.
It had been sitting on my mother's bedroom dresser for years.
Now it was gone.
"Daniel.""
He entered the bedroom.
"What?""
"She took the box.""
He looked at the empty space.
"Maybe that's where the letter is.""
I searched the remaining drawers.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a piece of paper underneath the teacup.
It was a handwritten note.
*Marcus, if you're reading this, I couldn't bring myself to tell you in person. I'm sorry.*
My fingers tightened around the paper.
There was more.
*Your father believed he was protecting the family. Vanessa convinced him that Elena's medical situation was being handled properly. He signed documents he never fully understood.*
I read the next sentence.
*But I was the one who took Elena's final letter from the hospital. I have regretted it every day.*
Daniel looked over my shoulder.
"She knew.""
I nodded.
"And she kept it from me.""
I continued reading.
*I will explain everything when I see you. Please don't let Vanessa get the letter.*
I folded the note.
"Call the police.""
Daniel stared at me.
"Why?""
"Because someone is threatening my mother, and I don't know where she is.""
Before he could respond, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Reed, this is Officer Bennett. We received a call from a woman claiming to be your mother.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Where is she?""
"She's at the police station. She's safe, but she requested to speak with you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Is she hurt?""
"No. But she appears extremely distressed.""
"Tell her I'm coming.""
Twenty minutes later, Daniel and I arrived.
My mother was sitting in a small interview room.
Her hands were folded tightly in her lap.
When she saw me, she began crying.
"Marcus.""
I rushed forward and hugged her.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded against my shoulder.
"I'm sorry.""
I pulled back.
"Tell me everything.""
She looked toward Officer Bennett.
"I want to give a statement.""
The officer nodded and stepped outside.
My mother opened the wooden box.
Inside was a yellow envelope.
My name was written across it in Elena's handwriting.
I recognized the lettering immediately.
"She gave this to you?""
My mother nodded.
"The night before she died.""
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
"Because Vanessa told me Elena had become confused. She said the letter contained delusional accusations.""
I stared at her.
"And you believed her?""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"Not entirely. But your father was already involved. He told me not to interfere.""
"What exactly did Dad do?""
She opened another envelope.
Inside were copies of financial documents.
My father's signature appeared on several pages.
He had signed as a witness to the original trust amendments.
But the dates were strange.
One document was dated after he had supposedly stopped visiting the hospital.
Another contained a handwritten instruction.
*Transfer authority pending medical incapacity.*
My mother pointed to the second page.
"Your father thought Vanessa was helping Elena organize the estate. He believed the changes were temporary.""
"Then why didn't he reverse them?""
"Because Vanessa told him Elena had already approved everything.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain the forged signatures.""
My mother lowered her eyes.
"Your father found out about the medication.""
I stopped.
"When?""
"The day before Elena died.""
"How?""
"He saw Vanessa arguing with Dr. Cole outside the hospital room.""
My blood ran cold.
"What did he do?""
"He confronted her. She told him she was protecting the family. She threatened to expose some private financial arrangements involving his business.""
I stared at the papers.
"My father was blackmailed?""
My mother nodded.
"He was ashamed. He thought if he stayed quiet, he could fix things later.""
"Later?""
She began crying.
"He died before he could.""
I sat down.
For years, I had believed my father had passed away without any secrets between us.
Now I was discovering that he had carried one of the worst secrets of my life to his grave.
My mother opened the yellow envelope.
"There's something else.""
She handed me Elena's letter.
I unfolded it carefully.
My dearest Marcus,
If you are reading this, then I was unable to tell you everything myself.
Please don't blame yourself for trusting people. You have always wanted to see the good in others.
But I need you to understand that Vanessa's kindness is not what it appears to be.
She has been asking about Maya's inheritance for months. She has also been trying to convince me that you would be better off without me.
I know she has spoken to your father. I know she has spoken to Dr. Cole.
I don't know how far this goes.
But I have one thing that I need you to promise me.
If Vanessa ever becomes Maya's guardian, please look at the blue folder in my desk. There is a second document hidden beneath the trust papers.
It contains the name of the person who first introduced Vanessa to our family.
I stopped reading.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Keep going.""
The final paragraph was written in darker ink.
Marcus, I love you. And I love our little girl more than anything.
Please don't let anyone convince her that she was unwanted.
She was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Forever yours,
Elena.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I looked at my mother.
"Where is the blue folder?""
She hesitated.
"I thought you had it.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"We found the folder in storage, but there was no second document.""
My mother looked frightened.
"Then Vanessa has it.""
My phone rang.
It was our new attorney, Catherine Brooks.
I answered.
"Marcus, we have a problem.""
"What happened?""
"The emergency custody hearing has been moved forward. Vanessa's attorney requested an immediate review.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
I closed my eyes.
"What are they claiming now?""
Catherine hesitated.
"That Maya is being kept in an emotionally abusive environment and that you have been manipulating her against her stepmother.""
I almost laughed.
"She's the one who starved my daughter.""
"I know. But the court needs evidence, not accusations.""
"We have the recordings.""
"Good. Bring everything.""
I looked at the letter.
"There's another issue. We believe Vanessa has access to documents connected to Elena's medical records and trust.""
"Then we need to establish exactly how she obtained that authority.""
Catherine paused.
"Marcus, I reviewed the original estate file.""
"And?""
"Vanessa wasn't the first person listed as the person who introduced her to Elena.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Someone amended that section after Elena died.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who was originally listed?""
Catherine lowered her voice.
"Your brother.""
I slowly turned toward Daniel.
He was standing beside my mother.
May you like
He had heard Catherine's words.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, Daniel looked genuinely afraid.
