Chapter 3: The Secret Inside the Folder
I stared at the folder in Mia’s hand.
The confidence in her eyes bothered me.
Not because I was scared of her.
Because I knew that look.
Mia only smiled like that when she thought she had control.
“What’s inside?””
She walked closer.
“Something Dad never told you.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Mia, stop playing games.””
“Oh, I’m not.””
She dropped the folder onto the table.
“Open it.””
I looked at her.
“No.””
Her smile faded slightly.
“You’re not curious?””
I was.
Of course I was.
But I had learned something about Mia.
She never gave anything without wanting something back.
Dad came into the kitchen before I could respond.
“What’s happening?””
Mia immediately changed her expression.
“Nothing.””
Dad looked between us.
“Aaliyah?””
I pointed at the folder.
“She brought this.””
Dad’s face changed.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
“What is it?””
Mia smiled.
“Ask him.””
The room became quiet.
Dad picked up the folder.
He opened it.
Then he closed it.
Slowly.
“Mia.””
Her smile disappeared.
“What?””
“Where did you get this?””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“It matters.””
I looked at Dad.
“What is it?””
He hesitated.
That scared me more than anything.
Dad never hesitated.
“Aaliyah…”
I stepped back.
“Dad.””
Before he could answer, Mia laughed.
“See?””
“Mia, enough,” Dad said.
“No. She should know.””
I looked at her.
“Know what?””
Mia crossed her arms.
“That you’re not the only one who lost something.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She pointed at the folder.
“Open it.””
Dad took a breath.
Then he handed it to me.
Inside were old documents.
Family papers.
And one photograph.
My hands shook when I picked it up.
It was a picture of my mother.
Standing beside Dad.
And beside them…
Was a woman I didn’t recognize.
“Mia,” Dad said quietly.
“Tell her.””
My eyes moved between them.
“Tell me what?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Mia said:
“Your dad didn’t tell you everything about your mom.””
The air disappeared from my lungs.
I looked at Dad.
“Is that true?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Not because there was a secret.
Because it was my mother.
The person I had lost.
“What secret?””
Dad sat down.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
I waited.
He opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Mia interrupted.
“Because he knew you’d hate him.””
“Mia!””
But it was too late.
I looked at Dad.
“What did you do?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I didn’t do anything.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
He looked at the photograph.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
Nobody answered.
Then Mia said the words that changed everything.
“From the truth about who your mother really was.””
I felt cold.
The graduation dress.
The ruined morning.
The anger.
Everything suddenly felt smaller.
Because now I was standing in the middle of a mystery about the person I loved most.
Dad reached for my hand.
“Aaliyah, listen to me.””
But before he could continue…
The front door opened.
A woman’s voice came from the hallway.
“David?””
Dad froze.
I turned around.
A stranger was standing there.
And the moment she saw me…
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh my God.””
May you like
She whispered my name.
“Aaliyah?””