Chapter 8: The Truth Behind The Lies
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Not me.
Not Dad.
Not Linda.
The only sound was the wind moving through the trees outside.
I looked at the report again.
Identity fraud.
Those words didn’t belong in my family story.
They belonged in crime documentaries.
Not in my kitchen.
“What is this?”” I asked.
Linda crossed her arms.
“I told you. Your mother knew.””
Dad looked furious.
“You don’t get to use her name.””
Linda looked at him.
“You abandoned me without hearing my side.””
“You hurt my son.””
She laughed bitterly.
“And you think your first wife was perfect?””
I felt my stomach twist.
“Stop talking about my mother.””
Linda looked at me.
For a second, something almost like guilt appeared.
Then it disappeared.
“You deserve the truth.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I deserve the truth from someone who isn’t trying to hurt me.””
Dad took the report from my hand.
He looked through the pages.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
He looked at Linda.
“Where did you get this?””
She said nothing.
“Linda.””
Finally she answered.
“Your wife’s things.””
My father froze.
“You stole from her?””
“No.””
“You went through her belongings after she died?””
Linda looked away.
That was an answer.
My father stepped back.
I had never seen him look at someone with such disappointment.
“You knew she was suspicious of you.””
Linda’s eyes flashed.
“She hated me.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“She protected our son.””
Linda’s expression hardened.
“She always thought she was better than me.””
I stared at her.
There it was.
The real reason.
Not me.
Not Tyler.
Not the family.
Jealousy.
My mother had something Linda wanted.
A love she couldn’t force.
A family she couldn’t replace.
My father sat down.
“I need to know something.””
Linda looked at him.
“What?””
“Is the report real?””
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
My heart dropped.
“But it’s not what you think.””
“Then explain.””
Linda looked at me.
“My real name isn’t Linda Carter.””
Nobody moved.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“My name was changed years ago.””
Dad stood.
“Why?””
“Because I was running from something.””
The room felt smaller.
“What were you running from?”” I asked.
She looked at me.
“My past.””
My father shook his head.
“You lied to me.””
“I was afraid.””
“You built a marriage on a lie.””
She started crying.
Real tears this time.
Maybe.
“I loved you.””
Dad looked away.
“Love doesn’t look like this.””
That sentence destroyed her.
She sat down.
For the first time, she looked small.
But I remembered the broken frame.
The messages.
The years.
Small didn’t mean innocent.
My father picked up the report.
“Who sent this?””
Linda didn’t answer.
He looked at her.
“Who?””
Finally she said:
“Your wife’s lawyer.””
My aunt stepped forward.
“What?””
Everyone turned.
She had entered quietly.
Linda looked shocked.
“Amanda?””
My aunt’s face was cold.
“You thought nobody would find out?””
Linda stood.
“You don’t know anything.””
“I know your real name.””
Linda went still.
My aunt continued.
“I know why you changed it.””
Dad looked between them.
“What is happening?””
My aunt looked at me.
“Alex needs to know the last part.””
I felt tired.
Tired of secrets.
Tired of adults deciding what I could handle.
“What last part?””
My aunt looked at Linda.
Then said:
“Your stepmother wasn’t just watching your family before she joined it.””
A pause.
“She was connected to the reason your mother started investigating her.””
My blood turned cold.
“What connection?””
My aunt opened her bag.
She pulled out one final file.
And placed it on the table.
“This is what your mother discovered two weeks before she died.””
Dad opened the file.
His face changed.
Then he whispered:
“Oh my God.””
I stepped closer.
“What?””
He looked at me.
And I knew whatever was inside that file…
Would change everything.
“She wasn’t trying to protect herself.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“She was trying to protect you.””