Chapter 9: The Betrayal Hidden in Plain Sight
I read the sentence over and over.
The person who betrayed me is closer to you than you think.
My hands became cold.
Everyone around me looked like a possible answer.
Evelyn.
Victoria.
Someone from my grandmother’s past.
But the one thought I couldn’t escape was the possibility that the betrayal had been happening right in front of me for years.
James noticed my expression.
“Maria.””
I looked up.
“What if it’s someone we trust?””
His face tightened.
“We’ll find out.””
The next morning, we met with Daniel Brooks again.
This time, the office felt different.
No confusion.
No guessing.
We had pieces of the truth.
Now we needed the full picture.
Daniel placed several files on the desk.
“I found something after reviewing your grandmother’s records.””
James leaned forward.
“What?””
Daniel opened a folder.
“Your grandmother didn’t just create a trust for Lily.””
He looked at me.
“She created a record of every person involved in the original agreement.””
I frowned.
“Everyone?””
“Yes.””
Daniel pulled out a list.
“There are signatures from your grandmother, your father, James’s father, and one more person.””
He tapped the page.
I looked down.
My heart stopped.
The signature belonged to Evelyn.
James stared at it.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“She was involved from the beginning?””
“She was.””
I looked at James.
He seemed unable to process it.
His entire life had been built around a woman he thought he understood.
Daniel continued.
“Your grandmother trusted Evelyn at first. They worked together.””
“Then what happened?”” I asked.
Daniel’s expression became serious.
“Greed.””
The word hung in the room.
“Evelyn discovered the investment had grown far beyond what anyone expected. She believed your grandmother’s family had too much control.””
James shook his head.
“So she changed the records?””
“Yes.””
“And my father knew?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Eventually.””
James looked away.
That answer hurt him.
Because it meant his father had known something was wrong.
But he had stayed silent.
I touched James’s hand.
He looked at me.
“I spent my whole life defending people who were hurting us.””
I squeezed his fingers.
“You didn’t know.””
“But I should have.””
Before I could respond, Daniel’s assistant rushed into the room.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Everyone turned.
She looked nervous.
“There’s someone here asking for Maria.””
Daniel stood.
“Who?””
The assistant hesitated.
“She says she’s your aunt.””
I froze.
“My aunt?””
I had no aunt.
At least, that was what I believed.
A few moments later, an older woman entered the office.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears when she saw me.
“Maria?””
I stood slowly.
“Who are you?””
The woman took a shaky breath.
“My name is Rebecca.””
She looked at Lily.
“I’m your father’s sister.””
The room went silent.
James looked shocked.
“You’re Daniel’s sister?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“How do you know me?””
She stepped closer.
“Because I have been looking for you for years.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
Rebecca looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Because your grandmother asked me to protect you.””
James frowned.
“Then why didn’t you contact her?””
Rebecca’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because I was threatened.””
“By Evelyn?””
She nodded.
The answer hurt, even though I expected it.
Rebecca sat down.
“After your father disappeared, Evelyn told everyone he abandoned you. She controlled the story.””
“What happened to my father?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“He was forced to leave after someone tried to destroy him.””
“Who?””
Rebecca took a deep breath.
“Evelyn.””
No one spoke.
Then Rebecca reached into her bag.
She placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed my father standing beside my grandmother.
And beside them was Evelyn.
But behind the photo was something written.
A date.
The same date my grandmother died.
Rebecca looked at me.
“There is one thing you need to know.””
“What?””
“Your grandmother didn’t die peacefully.””
The room became silent.
“She was trying to expose Evelyn that night.””
My stomach dropped.
James looked at Rebecca.
“What happened?””
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“She left one final piece of evidence.””
“Where?””
Rebecca looked directly at me.
“She hid it somewhere only you would think to look.””
I stared at her.
“Where?””
Rebecca pointed toward Lily.
“At the place your grandmother loved most.””
I felt confused.
Then I remembered.
The old family garden.
The place where my grandmother taught me to plant flowers.
The place she always called my safe place.
Before we could leave, my phone buzzed.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
May you like
One sentence.
*Stop searching, Maria. Or you will lose the only family you have left.*
