Chapter 14: The Secret Nicole Protected
Nobody spoke for almost a minute.
Then my mother looked at Nicole.
"Where?""
Nicole didn't answer.
My father stepped forward.
"Where did you hide her?""
Nicole looked terrified.
"I didn't hide her.""
"Daniel just said—"
"Because he wants you to think that.""
She looked at my mother.
"I found you.""
My mother's face changed.
"You found me?""
Nicole nodded.
"After the crash.""
The room went silent again.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Nicole looked away.
"Because Daniel convinced me you were going to expose me.""
My mother laughed.
"You believed him?""
Nicole's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes.""
That honesty surprised everyone.
"I believed him because he knew exactly what to say.""
She sat down.
"After the crash, I found your car.""
My mother stared.
"I thought you were dead.""
"But I wasn't.""
"No.""
Nicole shook her head.
"You were barely conscious.""
I felt a chill.
"What did you do?""
Nicole looked at me.
"I took you to a hospital.""
My mother froze.
"Which hospital?""
"A private one.""
"Under what name?""
Nicole hesitated.
And that hesitation told us everything.
"What name?""
Nicole whispered:
"Sarah Miller.""
My mother's face went white.
"Sarah?""
She closed her eyes.
"That's why nobody could find me.""
I looked at Nicole.
"You changed her identity?""
"I saved her life.""
"You erased her life.""
Nicole flinched.
"Yes.""
My father looked devastated.
"Why didn't you bring her home?""
Nicole looked at him.
"Because Daniel threatened me.""
"What did he say?""
She swallowed.
"He said if I brought her back, he would tell the police everything.""
"Everything about what?""
Nicole looked at me.
"About the documents.""
The room became silent.
My father looked down.
"I knew.""
I turned toward him.
"You knew?""
He nodded.
"I knew there was something wrong.""
My anger returned.
"You always knew.""
"I suspected.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You don't get to use that word anymore.""
His eyes filled with regret.
"I was afraid.""
"There it is again.""
The same excuse.
The same wound.
My mother touched my shoulder.
"Emma.""
I looked at her.
She shook her head.
"Don't let anger make you lose yourself.""
Those words hurt.
Because she sounded like my mother.
The mother I had missed.
The mother I thought I lost.
Then Nicole stood.
"I can help you find Daniel.""
Everyone looked at her.
My father frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I know where he keeps everything.""
My mother studied her.
"Why would you help us?""
Nicole looked at Lily.
Then at me.
"Because I spent twelve years letting him destroy this family.""
Her voice broke.
"And I can't let him destroy what's left.""
She walked to a cabinet near the wall.
Pulled out a small key.
"I kept this hidden.""
"What is it?""
"The storage unit where Daniel kept copies.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Copies of what?""
Nicole looked at her.
"Everything.""
Before we could move, the lights suddenly went out.
The house went completely dark.
Then came a sound.
A crash.
From upstairs.
Lily screamed.
Someone was inside.
My father grabbed a flashlight.
"Stay here.""
"No.""
I followed him.
Because I was done hiding.
We reached the upstairs hallway.
The window was open.
Cold air rushed inside.
On the floor was a broken laptop.
And beside it...
A familiar folder.
The one Nicole had brought.
But this time, there was something written across the front.
A message.
May you like
Four words.
*You found the wrong truth.*
