Chapter 9: The Woman Who Played Everyone
When we arrived home, the front door was open.
That was the first sign something was wrong.
My father would never leave the door unlocked.
Not after everything that happened.
I stepped inside.
"Hello?""
No answer.
The house felt empty.
Not peaceful.
Empty.
Like someone had taken all the air out of it.
My mother followed behind me.
"Emma, stay close.""
The woman who had once seemed like a stranger was now the person I trusted most.
That realization hurt.
Because I had spent years missing her.
And I didn't even know she was fighting to come back.
We found Dad in the living room.
He was sitting on the couch.
A folder rested on the table in front of him.
He looked defeated.
"You came.""
I stared at the folder.
"The agreement?""
He nodded.
"Nicole left it.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Why would she give it to you?""
Dad looked at her.
"Because she knows.""
"Knows what?""
His eyes moved to me.
"That I can't hide anymore.""
I opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Legal papers.
Signatures.
Dates.
But something was missing.
The final page.
"Where is the rest?""
Dad looked away.
"Nicole took it.""
My mother frowned.
"Then she still has control.""
Dad nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at him.
"Tell me everything.""
He closed his eyes.
"After your mother disappeared from your life, Nicole convinced me to sign temporary custody papers.""
"Temporary?""
"She said it was just until things calmed down.""
"And?""
"She changed them.""
My hands tightened.
"How?""
"She replaced pages.""
My mother whispered:
"Forgery.""
Dad nodded.
"I found out months later.""
I stared at him.
"And you did nothing?""
His silence answered.
"I was ashamed.""
I laughed bitterly.
"That doesn't make it better.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"It doesn't.""
For once, he didn't defend himself.
He didn't make excuses.
He just admitted it.
Then Lily walked into the room.
Her face was pale.
"Emma.""
"What?""
She held a piece of paper.
"I found this upstairs.""
I took it.
It was a note.
Only one sentence.
*If you want the truth, come to the old office. Alone.*
No name.
But I knew.
Nicole.
My mother took the paper.
"Don't go.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because she wants you alone.""
"Maybe.""
I folded the note.
"But she also wants me to know something.""
Dad stood.
"No.""
His voice was firm.
"Emma, for once, listen to me.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because I know Nicole.""
He looked terrified.
"She doesn't reveal secrets.""
He pointed at the note.
"She trades them.""
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Nicole.
I opened it.
There was a picture.
A picture of a document.
The missing final page.
And below it were five words.
*Your mother never told you.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
May you like
This time, it was only one sentence.
*Come alone, and I'll show you who really abandoned you.*
