Chapter 4: The Truth Evelyn Tried to Bury
My mother’s return didn’t feel like a miracle.
It felt impossible.
Like someone had opened a door to the past and dragged my childhood back into the present.
I stood there staring at her.
She looked at me like she was afraid I would disappear.
“I know you probably hate me,” she whispered.
I couldn’t answer.
Because I had spent years believing she was gone.
I had cried over her grave.
I had learned how to live without her.
And now she was standing in front of me.
Alive.
My father stepped back.
“Anna…”
Her eyes moved toward him.
“You let me believe our daughter hated me.””
His face fell.
“I thought you were dead.””
“You thought?””
The pain in her voice filled the room.
My mother walked inside.
Maria quietly closed the door behind her.
Nobody knew what to say.
Finally, I asked:
“Why did everyone tell me you died?””
My mother looked at my father.
Then she answered.
“Because someone wanted me gone.””
The room went silent.
“Evelyn,” Maria whispered.
My mother nodded.
“She found out I had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
My mother reached into her bag.
She pulled out an envelope.
“I found documents showing Evelyn was secretly transferring your father’s money before they even married.””
My father looked shocked.
“I never knew.””
“She was planning everything,” my mother said.
Maria looked at the envelope.
“My mother knew too.””
My father sat down heavily.
All the pieces were finally connecting.
Evelyn didn’t enter our family because she loved him.
She entered because she wanted control.
But one question remained.
“Why didn’t you come back?””
My mother looked at me.
“Because she threatened me.””
My blood turned cold.
“She told me if I returned, she would make sure you lost everything.””
“She threatened my daughter?””
My mother nodded.
“She had people watching me.””
My father stood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because every time I tried, Evelyn got there first.””
The room became quiet.
Then Maria’s phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
“What?””
“What happened?”” I asked.
She turned the phone toward us.
It was a message.
From an unknown number.
Only six words.
*You found her. Now you’ll both pay.*
My father immediately grabbed his phone.
“I’m calling the police.””
But before he could dial, another message arrived.
This time with an attachment.
A photo.
My mother looked at it.
Then covered her mouth.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She slowly handed me the phone.
The picture showed my bedroom window.
Taken from outside.
Taken that night.
Someone had been watching me.
May you like
And underneath the photo was another message.
*The poison was only the beginning.*