Chapter 4: The Name Hidden in the Letter
The letter felt heavier than a piece of paper should have been.
I held it with both hands, staring at the name written at the bottom.
My fingers went cold.
“Who is this?”” I whispered.
My father didn’t answer immediately.
He stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on the signature as if he had just seen a ghost.
“Dad?””
He slowly took the letter back.
“This handwriting…”
His voice disappeared.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“It’s from your aunt.””
I frowned.
“My aunt?””
My father nodded.
“Your mother’s older sister.””
I had heard stories about her when I was younger. She was the only person from my mother’s side who still visited after my mother passed away. But after my father remarried, she suddenly stopped coming.
I never understood why.
“What does she have to do with this?”” I asked.
My father unfolded the letter again.
The first line was written in shaky handwriting.
I waited years before sending this because I was afraid of what would happen if the truth came out.
My father read silently.
Then his face changed.
“What does it say?””
He looked at me.
“It says she knew your stepmother was taking the money.””
My stomach dropped.
“Then why didn’t she tell you?””
My father kept reading.
The silence became unbearable.
Finally, he spoke.
“Because your stepmother threatened her.””
I stared at him.
“Threatened her with what?””
My father looked back at the letter.
“She said she would make sure your aunt never saw you again.””
I felt a strange pain in my chest.
All these years, I thought I had been forgotten.
But the truth was worse.
People knew.
People saw.
And somehow, everyone was too afraid to speak.
My father continued reading.
“She wrote that your stepmother created a second bank account. She transferred the money I sent into it before spending it.””
I clenched my fists.
“Can she do that?””
My father shook his head.
“Not legally.””
Then he looked toward the house.
“She lied to me.””
A sound came from behind us.
A slow clap.
My stepmother stood in the hallway.
“I see you found the letter.””
My father turned around.
His expression was completely different from before.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Just disappointed.
“How long were you standing there?””
She smiled.
“Long enough.””
My father stepped forward.
“Why?””
She tilted her head.
“Why what?””
“Why did you do this?””
For a second, her face softened.
Then it disappeared.
“Because someone had to think about the future.””
My father stared at her.
“The future?””
“Yes.””
She walked into the room calmly.
“You left me alone with two children and expected me to handle everything.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“I sent money every month.””
“You sent money for Lily.””
The way she said my name made my skin crawl.
“And what about Ryan?””
My father looked confused.
“What about him?””
“He needed opportunities too.””
I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“So you stole from me?””
She looked at me.
“Watch your words.””
“No,” my father said.
His voice was firm.
“She has every right to say it.””
My stepmother’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re really going to take her side after all these years?””
My father looked at me.
“There is no side.””
Then he pointed at the garden.
“There is a daughter who stopped school because she thought we had no money.””
His finger moved toward the motorcycle outside.
“And there is a son riding a vehicle that cost more than her education.””
Nobody spoke.
Ryan looked uncomfortable.
For the first time, he looked like he understood what had happened.
My stepmother crossed her arms.
“You’re acting like I destroyed her life.””
My father’s eyes hardened.
“You almost did.””
She laughed.
“Almost?””
She stepped closer.
“You think school is everything?””
I felt anger rise in me.
Because she was saying the exact thing she had always used against me.
“You never cared about school.””
My voice came out before I could stop it.
“You cared about making sure Ryan had everything.””
The room went silent.
My stepmother looked at me.
Really looked at me.
And for the first time, I wasn’t the scared child standing in front of her.
I was someone who knew the truth.
She smiled slightly.
“You think you’ve won?””
My father moved between us.
“Enough.””
But she didn’t stop.
“You should ask your daughter where she got the courage to accuse me.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
My stepmother looked at my father.
“You think I’m the only one who kept secrets?””
My father froze.
“What are you talking about?””
She walked toward the table and picked up her phone.
“I think it’s time you know why Lily really stopped trusting you.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What are you saying?””
She unlocked her phone.
“There are things she never told you.””
My father looked at me.
“Lily?””
I felt fear return.
Not because I had done something wrong.
Because I knew she was searching for another way to hurt me.
My stepmother held up her phone.
“I have proof.””
My father looked at the screen.
And the moment he saw it, his expression changed.
Because on the screen was a message.
May you like
A message I had never sent.
But somehow, my name was attached to it.