Chapter 15: The Truth About My Mother’s Death
Nobody spoke after Laura’s words.
Not one person.
Because everyone understood what she had just said.
My mother’s death was not an accident.
For years, I had accepted the official story.
A sudden illness.
A tragic ending.
A loss nobody could prevent.
But now I was standing in a room full of people who knew there was more.
“How?”” I whispered.
Laura looked at me.
“Emily…”
“How did she die?””
Her face twisted with guilt.
“I don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
Laura nodded.
“The night Claire died, she called me.””
Victor looked at her sharply.
“You said you weren’t involved.””
“I said I wasn’t responsible.””
Her voice became stronger.
“That’s different.””
She looked at me.
“Claire had discovered the financial records.””
“The ones proving Victor stole money?””
“Yes.””
“She was going to report him.””
I looked at Victor.
“And he stopped her.””
Victor laughed.
“You have no proof.””
Laura reached into her bag.
“Yes, I do.””
She pulled out a small flash drive.
Everyone stared.
Victor’s expression changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“What is that?””
Laura held it tightly.
“The reason I stayed silent for years.””
She handed it to me.
My fingers shook as I took it.
“Why didn’t you release this before?””
Laura looked down.
“Because I was scared.””
I almost said something.
Then I stopped.
Because I understood something painful.
Fear had created this entire nightmare.
Everyone had made choices because they were afraid.
And every choice had hurt someone.
Darius connected the flash drive to the laptop on the table.
A video appeared.
A timestamp.
The night my mother died.
My breathing slowed.
Then the screen showed my mother.
Alive.
Sitting at the kitchen table.
She looked exhausted.
But angry.
“I know what you did, Victor.””
Everyone became still.
My mother was speaking to someone off-camera.
“I know about the accounts.””
Victor’s voice answered.
“You don’t understand what you’re accusing me of.””
My blood ran cold.
It was him.
Younger.
But unmistakable.
“You stole from your own family.””
“You’re emotional.””
“No.””
My mother’s voice shook.
“I’m done being afraid.””
I looked at Darius.
He watched the screen with tears in his eyes.
The video continued.
Victor stepped into view.
“You think Marcus will save you?””
My mother looked at him.
“No.””
She smiled sadly.
“I think Emily will.””
My heart stopped.
Victor laughed.
“She won’t even know the truth.””
My mother’s expression changed.
“You’re wrong.””
The video flickered.
Then Victor leaned closer.
“You should have listened to me.””
My mother stood.
“What are you going to do?””
The screen shook.
A sound.
A crash.
Then the video cut.
Everyone froze.
“That’s it?”” Marcus asked.
Laura nodded.
“The camera was damaged.””
I stared at the screen.
“That doesn’t prove he killed her.””
“No.””
Laura looked at Victor.
“But it proves he was there.””
Victor stepped forward.
“You’re all making assumptions.””
Darius stood.
“Then why are you scared?””
Victor stopped.
Because he knew.
The question had exposed him.
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man’s voice.
“Emily.””
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
I looked at Victor.
But his mouth was closed.
The voice continued.
“You’re looking for the truth about your mother.””
Everyone watched me.
“Who is this?””
The man laughed softly.
“The person who was with her after that video ended.””
My blood ran cold.
“There was someone else there?””
“Yes.””
The voice became quieter.
“And if you want to know who really caused your mother’s death…”
A pause.
“Ask Darius what he did after he found her.””
I slowly turned.
Toward Darius.
May you like
His face went pale.
Because he knew exactly who was calling.
