Chapter 9: The Final Lie
I couldn’t accept it.
Not my aunt.
Not the woman who held my hand at my mother’s funeral.
Not the woman who told me I had to “be strong.””
“You’re wrong,” I said.
My mother looked heartbroken.
“I wish I was.””
My father paced the room.
“How could she do this?””
Richard answered quietly.
“Money changes people.””
“No.””
My father shook his head.
“This is more than money.””
He looked at the evidence.
“She knew.””
Everyone understood.
She knew my mother was alive.
She knew Claire was guilty.
And she let me grow up believing I had lost my mother forever.
The next morning, we called her.
We didn’t accuse her.
We invited her to dinner.
Because we needed proof.
She arrived smiling.
“Emma.””
She hugged me.
And I almost broke.
Because a part of me still wanted her to be innocent.
She looked around.
“Your mother isn’t here?””
Nobody answered.
Her smile faded.
Then she saw the papers on the table.
And she knew.
The mask slipped.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
My father stood.
“Why?””
My aunt looked at him.
“I don’t know what you mean.””
“Don’t lie.””
His voice was cold.
“Not anymore.””
She sighed.
“I was trying to protect Emma.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Protect me?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
“You let me think my mother abandoned me.””
“I had no choice.””
“There is always a choice.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked toward my mother.
“Of losing everything.””
My mother stepped forward.
“You helped Claire.””
My aunt looked away.
“Yes.””
The confession was quiet.
My father closed his eyes.
“Why?””
“Because Claire promised me money.””
The room went silent.
“She said if your wife disappeared, Emma would need family.””
I felt sick.
“You used me.””
“No.””
She cried.
“I loved you.””
“Love doesn’t destroy someone.””
She had no answer.
Then my mother asked:
“Who ordered the accident?””
My aunt froze.
That was the answer.
She knew.
My father stepped closer.
“Who?””
My aunt whispered:
“I never knew his name.””
Everyone went still.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“Claire always reported to someone else.””
My mother’s face changed.
“Someone above her.””
My aunt nodded.
“He was the one who wanted the company.””
Richard immediately opened the records.
“There’s one more account.””
He turned the screen.
A name appeared.
And every person in the room went silent.
Because it belonged to someone who had been helping us from the beginning.
Someone who had access to everything.
Someone who knew every secret.
My father whispered:
“No…”
I looked at him.
“Who?””
He couldn’t answer.
My mother did.
Her voice barely worked.
“The person who found the ring.””
May you like
My heart stopped.
Mrs. Ellis.