Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew My Mother
I did not sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my mother’s face.
A face I barely remembered.
A face everyone told me I had lost forever.
But now, twelve years later, a stranger had reopened a wound I thought had healed.
My father found me in the library at sunrise.
The same place where I had discovered the truth about Adrian.
Maybe that was fitting.
The library had become the room where my life changed.
“You spoke to her,” my father said.
It wasn’t a question.
I looked up.
“How did you know?””
“Because you have your mother’s expression when you’re angry.””
I almost laughed.
Almost.
“You knew Clara existed.””
His silence confirmed it.
I stood.
“You knew.””
“Lillian—”
“No.””
My voice echoed through the room.
“How many more secrets are there?””
My father looked tired.
Not powerful.
Not like the billionaire everyone feared.
Just my father.
“A lot.””
The honesty hurt.
“But I thought I was protecting you.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone says that when they hide things.””
Before he could respond, the front doors opened.
A woman entered.
She was older, maybe in her sixties.
Her dark hair had streaks of silver.
Her eyes were filled with something I recognized.
Grief.
“Lillian?””
I knew immediately.
Clara.
She looked at me like she was seeing my mother.
“I’m sorry.””
Those were her first words.
Not hello.
Not nice to meet you.
I’m sorry.
“For what?””
She looked at my father.
Then back at me.
“For surviving when she didn’t.””
The room became silent.
I sat down.
“Tell me everything.””
Clara took a deep breath.
“I worked for your mother.””
“My mother had employees?””
My father looked away.
“She wasn’t just a socialite,” Clara explained.
“She was investigating financial crimes connected to several companies.””
My stomach tightened.
“Adrian’s family?””
Clara nodded.
“Your mother discovered that the Vale family was using illegal methods to control competitors.””
My father stepped forward.
“Clara.””
She looked at him.
“No more secrets, Daniel.””
That was the first time I heard someone speak to my father like an equal.
“She deserves the truth.””
My father lowered his eyes.
Clara continued.
“Evelyn planned to expose them.””
“Then why didn’t she?””
“Because someone close to her betrayed her.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Clara looked at my father.
I followed her gaze.
My heart dropped.
“Dad?””
My father immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Clara quickly said:
“Not him.””
I exhaled.
But then she continued.
“Someone inside the Ashford company.””
My father’s face hardened.
“Someone who disappeared after your mother’s death.””
“Who?””
Clara hesitated.
Then she opened her bag.
She removed a small notebook.
The cover was damaged.
But I recognized the initials carved into it.
*E.A.*
“My mother’s?””
“Yes.””
I opened it.
Most pages were filled with numbers and names.
But one page had only a single sentence.
Written in red ink.
*The person closest to Daniel knows the truth.*
I looked at my father.
“Who was closest to you?””
His face changed.
A memory.
A painful one.
Then he whispered:
“My brother.””
I stared.
“You had a brother?””
My father nodded slowly.
“Alexander.””
The name meant nothing to me.
Until Clara placed another photograph on the table.
A photograph of three people.
My mother.
My father.
And a man standing beside them.
The man’s face looked familiar.
Too familiar.
I picked up the picture.
“Why do I know him?””
Nobody answered.
Then Clara whispered:
“Because Alexander Ashford is Adrian Vale’s biological father.””
The photograph slipped from my hand.
My entire marriage.
My entire life.
Everything connected.
And then my phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
May you like
One sentence.
*Stop searching for the past, Lillian. You won’t survive the truth.*
