Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew My Mother
Nobody moved.
The woman standing at the door looked at me like she had been searching for me for years.
Dad immediately stood.
“What are you doing here?””
Her expression changed.
“David, you didn’t tell her?””
My heart sank.
Not again.
Another secret.
Another thing everyone knew except me.
“Tell me what?””
The woman looked at Dad.
Then at me.
“I’m sorry.””
I hated those words.
People always said sorry after they had already hurt me.
Dad stepped between us.
“Aaliyah, this is Rachel.””
The name meant nothing.
But the way Dad said it meant everything.
“Who is she?””
Rachel looked down.
“I was your mother’s best friend.””
My breathing slowed.
“My mother’s?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked at Dad.
“Why is she here?””
Nobody answered.
Then Rachel pulled a small envelope from her purse.
“Because your mother left something for you.””
My hands went cold.
“My mother?””
“She knew she was sick.””
The room became silent.
“She wrote letters.””
Dad closed his eyes.
I stared at him.
“You had letters from my mom?””
His silence answered everything.
I stepped back.
“How long?””
“Aaliyah…”
“How long did you have them?””
Dad looked broken.
“Years.””
I felt tears forming.
“You kept my mother’s words from me?””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“Everyone always says that.””
My voice cracked.
“But nobody asks what I wanted.””
Rachel looked at me sadly.
“Your mother loved you more than anything.””
I looked at the envelope.
I wanted to believe her.
I wanted to grab it.
But I was angry.
“Why now?””
Rachel glanced at Mia.
That small movement made me notice.
“Mia knows about this?””
Mia looked away.
Dad’s face hardened.
“Mia was never supposed to know.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
Then I understood.
The folder.
The dress.
The threats.
Mia wasn’t just jealous.
She was trying to destroy something bigger.
I walked toward her.
“You planned all of this.””
She looked surprised.
“What?””
“You wanted me upset. You wanted me fighting with Dad.””
“That’s ridiculous.””
“Then why did you have those documents?””
Mia’s face changed.
For the first time…
She looked nervous.
“I found them.””
“Where?””
She didn’t answer.
Dad stepped forward.
“Mia.””
She looked at him.
“Where did you get those papers?””
The silence told me everything.
Dad’s expression became darker.
“Mia.””
She whispered:
“I found them in your office.””
My heart dropped.
She had been searching.
Not accidentally.
Searching.
Dad looked at her.
“You went through my private files?””
Mia crossed her arms.
“You hide everything from me.””
“Because they weren’t yours.””
The anger on her face appeared instantly.
“Everything is always about Aaliyah!””
And there it was.
The truth.
Not the dress.
Not the graduation.
Not the bag.
Mia hated me because she believed my existence took something away from her.
Dad looked exhausted.
“Mia, you need to pack a few things.””
Linda gasped.
“What?””
“She needs time away.””
“You’re kicking out your own daughter?””
Dad looked at her.
“I’m protecting mine.””
Mia stared at him.
Then she smiled.
A cold, dangerous smile.
“You think this is over?””
Nobody answered.
She walked upstairs.
A few minutes later, she came back down holding her phone.
She looked at me.
“I found something else.””
Dad’s expression changed.
“What did you find?””
May you like
Mia looked directly at me.
“Something that will prove your mother never wanted you to know the truth.””