Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I stared at my aunt’s message until the screen went dark.
Then I turned it back on.
Same words.
Same name.
Same person.
*I know you found the letter.*
My hands felt cold.
Because there was only one way she could know.
Someone had told her.
Or she had been watching.
Neither option made me feel safe.
Jordan leaned forward.
“What did she say?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
I showed him the phone.
His expression changed.
“Don’t go alone.””
The way he said it bothered me.
Not because he was wrong.
Because it sounded like he had been waiting for this moment.
“You knew she was involved.””
“I suspected.””
“Everyone suspects everything.””
“Nia.””
“No.””
I stood.
“No more half-truths.””
Jordan looked down.
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
“Yes.””
“Because I don’t think anyone does.””
My voice cracked.
“I lost my mother. I lost trust in my father. I found out my boyfriend had children and a whole history he hid from me.””
I looked at him.
“And now I’m supposed to believe my aunt was part of all this?””
Jordan didn’t argue.
He just said:
“I think you need to hear what she has to say.””
I grabbed my bag.
“Then I’m going.””
He stood.
“I’m coming with you.””
I hesitated.
The old version of me would have wanted him there.
The woman who loved him would have reached for his hand.
But I wasn’t that woman anymore.
Not completely.
“No.””
His face fell.
“Nia.””
“I need to hear the truth without you influencing it.””
“I’m not trying to influence you.””
“I know.””
That was the hardest part.
I believed he thought he was helping.
But everyone who lied to me believed they were helping.
“I’ll call you.””
He nodded.
And for the first time in two years, I walked away from him without looking back.
My aunt’s house was twenty-five minutes away.
The same house I had visited every holiday since I was a child.
The same house where I spent summers eating homemade cookies in the kitchen.
The same house where my aunt Clara hugged me after my mother died.
She had been there for everything.
My first day of school.
My graduation.
My first heartbreak.
She knew every version of me.
And somehow, I knew nothing about her.
When I pulled into her driveway, she was already standing outside.
Waiting.
That scared me more than if she had been surprised.
She knew I was coming.
I stepped out of the car.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she said:
“You look just like your mother when you’re angry.””
The comment made my chest tighten.
“Don’t do that.””
Her expression changed.
“Do what?””
“Talk about her like you have the right.””
Pain crossed her face.
But I didn’t let myself feel guilty.
Not this time.
“You knew.””
Clara looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer came so easily.
No denial.
No confusion.
Just yes.
I felt something inside me break.
“How long?””
She swallowed.
“Longer than you should have had to wait.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She nodded.
“Twenty years.””
I stared at her.
Twenty years.
My entire life.
“You knew about Jordan?””
“Yes.””
“You knew about Elijah?””
“Yes.””
“You knew my father was involved?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“How could you?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
Everyone said that.
Everyone used the same excuse.
“From what?””
She looked at me.
“From the truth.””
“No.””
My voice became sharper.
“From the truth, or from what the truth would say about you?””
She looked away.
That silence told me enough.
“What happened?””
Clara sat down on the porch steps.
I stayed standing.
“I need you to understand something.””
“I don’t need anything except the truth.””
She nodded.
“Your mother was not supposed to be there that night.””
I froze.
“What night?””
“The night Elijah disappeared.””
I felt my heartbeat change.
“You were there?””
“Yes.””
My breath caught.
“How?””
Clara looked at the ground.
“Because your mother called me.””
“Why?””
“She was scared.””
“Of what?””
Clara’s eyes lifted to mine.
“Of Marcus.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“My father loved her.””
“He did.””
“Then why was she afraid?””
“Because love does not stop people from making terrible choices.””
The words hurt.
Because they sounded true.
“What choice?””
Clara took a shaky breath.
“The truth is, Marcus found out something about Jordan.””
“What?””
“He found out Jordan was not the person everyone thought he was.””
I frowned.
“You mean the children?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Clara looked at me.
“He had another secret.””
My stomach tightened.
“What secret?””
She looked toward the street.
“Jordan had a reason for being close to your father.””
I froze.
“Because of Elijah.””
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
“Then why?””
Clara’s voice dropped.
“Because of your mother.””
The world went quiet.
“What?””
“Jordan knew your mother before she died.””
I stared.
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
“He met her?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before you ever met him.””
My head spun.
“No.””
Clara looked at me sadly.
“You need to stop believing everyone enters your life by accident.””
The same words.
The same warning.
My hands started shaking.
“Why would Jordan know my mother?””
“That is the question you should ask him.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m asking you.””
Clara closed her eyes.
“Your mother was investigating something.””
“Investigating what?””
“A disappearance.””
“Elijah?””
“Yes.””
I felt sick.
“My mother was looking for Elijah?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she believed someone close to the family knew where he was.””
“And who?””
Clara didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
I already knew.
“Your father?””
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
“Then who?””
Clara looked at me.
“The person who has been controlling this story from the beginning.””
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Alyssa.””
I froze.
“Alyssa?””
“Yes.””
“But Alyssa blamed Jordan.””
“I know.””
“She said my father was involved.””
“I know.””
“She lied?””
Clara looked away.
“Everyone lied.””
My anger flared.
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“It’s the truth.””
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I asked:
“Where is my mother’s evidence?””
Clara’s face changed.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“I don’t know.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“Then why are you scared?””
She went quiet.
Because she was scared.
Not pretending.
Actually scared.
Then she said:
“Because your mother hid something before she died.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“A recording.””
“Of what?””
“Of the night Elijah disappeared.””
I stopped breathing.
“Where is it?””
Clara looked toward the house.
“Your father has it.””
I stared.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he tell me nothing?””
“Because he made a promise.””
“To who?””
Clara looked at me.
“To your mother.””
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“My mother made him hide the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Clara stood slowly.
“Because she knew if the truth came out, it wouldn’t just destroy Jordan.””
“What would it destroy?””
She looked at me.
“Your family.””
Before I could respond, a car pulled into the driveway.
Both of us turned.
My heart stopped.
Because I recognized the car.
Jordan’s.
He stepped out.
But he wasn’t alone.
Alyssa got out from the passenger side.
My entire body went still.
“What is she doing here?””
Clara looked terrified.
“She wasn’t supposed to come.””
Alyssa walked toward us slowly.
Her face was pale.
She looked at me.
Then at Clara.
Then said:
“It’s time you heard what really happened.””
Jordan moved beside her.
And for the first time…
They weren’t looking like enemies.
They looked like two people who had been carrying the same secret.
Alyssa reached into her bag.
Pulled out a small device.
And placed it in my hand.
“This is your mother’s recording.””
My fingers closed around it.
“Why do you have this?””
Alyssa looked at Jordan.
Then at me.
“Because your mother gave it to me the night before she died.””
My heart stopped.
“She trusted you?””
Alyssa’s eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
She whispered:
“She was afraid of me.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
Alyssa looked at the device.
May you like
Then said:
“Because she discovered I was the reason Elijah disappeared.””