Chapter 18: The Woman Behind Everything
The person who stepped out of the car was Claire’s mother.
I knew her.
Not well.
But enough.
She had attended our engagement dinner.
She had hugged Lily.
She had told me she was happy her daughter found “a good man.””
Now she stood in the rain with a cold expression.
Nobody spoke.
Claire looked like the world had ended.
“Mom?””
Her mother didn’t answer.
Emily stepped backward.
“You.””
Claire’s mother looked at her.
“Yes.””
My mind raced.
“No.””
I looked between them.
“No, that doesn’t make sense.””
Her mother smiled faintly.
“Most truths don’t.””
Claire shook her head.
“I don’t understand.””
Her mother looked at her.
“That’s because I protected you.””
“Protected me?””
“Yes.””
Claire’s voice cracked.
“From what?””
The older woman looked at me.
“From him.””
I frowned.
“Me?””
She laughed softly.
“You have no idea what your family was involved in.””
I looked at Emily.
“What is she talking about?””
Emily’s expression was devastated.
“Your father.””
I froze.
“My father?””
The woman nodded.
“Your father was involved with Emily’s biological family.””
My stomach dropped.
“No.””
Emily stepped closer.
“David, your father was one of the investors connected to the research company.””
I shook my head.
“I never knew.””
“Exactly.””
Claire’s mother continued.
“Your father hid information before he died.””
“What information?””
She looked at Lily.
“The reason she matters.””
I stepped in front of my daughter.
“Enough.””
Her expression softened.
“I’m not here to hurt her.””
“Everyone says that.””
She looked at Claire.
“I spent years trying to clean up the damage.””
Claire looked horrified.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“About Emily?””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was alive?””
Her mother nodded.
Claire’s face broke.
“You lied to me.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
Claire stepped back.
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“You used me.””
The older woman looked away.
“That was never my intention.””
Emily laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.””
The words landed heavily.
Because they were true.
Everyone had excuses.
Everyone had reasons.
Everyone had caused damage.
I looked at Claire’s mother.
“Why destroy Emily’s life?””
She answered quietly.
“Because Emily found the original files.””
“What files?””
“The ones proving the company was built on stolen research.””
Emily nodded.
“And my biological family was involved.””
“Yes.””
“So you tried to silence me.””
“I tried to negotiate.””
Emily’s expression hardened.
“You threatened me.””
The woman said nothing.
That was enough.
Then Claire stepped forward.
“You made me hate Emily.””
Her mother looked at her.
“I never told you to hate her.””
“You told me she was ruining my life.””
“I told you David would never move on if he stayed trapped in the past.””
I stared.
Everything clicked.
Claire’s jealousy.
The locket.
The wedding.
The anger.
Her mother had been feeding it.
Claire looked at me.
“I thought I was protecting us.””
I saw the guilt in her face.
For the first time, I believed she truly hadn’t known everything.
Then Emily touched my arm.
“David.””
I looked at her.
“We need to find the final document.””
“What final document?””
“The one that proves everything.””
“Where is it?””
Emily looked at Lily.
My heart sank.
“No.””
She nodded.
“The locket was only the beginning.””
I looked at the silver heart.
“What else did you hide?””
Emily’s eyes filled.
“A message for Lily.””
A phone suddenly rang.
Everyone froze.
It was Claire’s mother’s phone.
She looked at the screen.
Then her face changed.
“What?””
Emily stepped closer.
“Who is it?””
The woman slowly turned the phone around.
A message appeared.
From an unknown number.
*You all found the pieces. But none of you found the person who wrote the plan.*
May you like
Below it was one final line.
*Ask David why Emily was never supposed to survive.*
