Chapter 13: The Family Secret
“Someone inside your family.””
Vanessa’s words stayed in the room.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
My father stared at her like he was waiting for her to take the words back.
She didn’t.
“Who?”” Marcus asked.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Vanessa looked down.
“I don’t know.””
The room exploded.
“You don’t know?””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You just told us someone inside my family gave Daniel access to my daughter’s information, and you don’t know who?””
“I said I don’t know.””
“Then what do you know?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And I saw something I never expected.
Fear for me.
Not fear of being caught.
Fear that something could happen to me.
“I know Daniel didn’t find out by accident.””
My father clenched his jaw.
“Explain.””
Vanessa sat down slowly.
“After Maya’s mother passed away, there were documents. Legal documents. Your mother wanted certain things protected.””
I listened carefully.
Every word felt like it belonged to a story about someone else.
But it was about me.
“She told a few people.””
Marcus froze.
“A few people?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She trusted them.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“My parents. Daniel. And one other person.””
My father’s expression changed.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“I don’t know if I should say.””
Marcus laughed once.
A cold laugh.
“You lost the right to protect secrets when you let someone target my daughter.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Your father.””
The room went silent.
My father stopped.
“What?””
“My father knew about the trust.””
I stared.
“Your father?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“He didn’t.””
Vanessa looked confused.
“What?””
“My father passed away before Maya was born.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa’s face changed.
“No.””
She looked genuinely shocked.
“That’s not possible.””
Marcus stared.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa grabbed the folder.
She opened it quickly.
Her hands were shaking.
“He told me.””
“Told you what?””
“That your father knew.””
My father took the documents from her.
He read them.
Then his face changed.
I watched him scan the page again.
And again.
“What?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“There’s a name here.””
“Whose?””
He turned the page.
A name was written on the document.
Not Daniel.
Not Vanessa.
Someone else.
Someone familiar.
My father whispered:
“My mother.””
The room went silent again.
Brielle looked confused.
“Your mother?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“My mom.””
I had met my grandmother before.
She was the woman who brought homemade pies during holidays and always told me I looked exactly like my dad.
The thought that she could be connected to this made my stomach hurt.
“No,” Marcus whispered.
Vanessa looked at him.
“I didn’t know.””
He looked up.
“Didn’t know what?””
“That Daniel was using the information.””
Marcus stared.
“But you knew my mother had access?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She told me years ago that there was something important involving Maya.””
My father stepped back.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Because I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked at me.
“Of what people would do if they knew.””
My father was silent.
Then his phone rang.
Everyone jumped.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“It’s my mother.””
Nobody spoke.
He answered.
“Mom?””
A pause.
Then his face tightened.
“Where are you?””
Another pause.
“What do you mean you need to talk?””
He listened.
Then slowly looked at me.
The call lasted less than a minute.
When he ended it, his hand was shaking.
“What did she say?”” I asked.
Marcus looked toward the front door.
“She’s coming here.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
May you like
Because he already knew.
“She said she needs to explain what happened before someone else does.””
