Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Gabriel stared at Thomas.
“My mother died.””
The words came out automatically.
Not because he was certain.
Because he needed them to be true.
Thomas didn’t react.
“That’s what you were told.””
Daniel looked shocked.
“What are you saying?””
Thomas turned toward him.
“I’m saying the people who raised you wanted you to believe the wrong story.””
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.””
He took a step back.
“My mother died when I was young.””
Thomas watched him carefully.
“Then why did she continue signing company documents for fifteen years after her death?””
Silence.
Gabriel felt the world tilt.
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
Thomas reached into the envelope.
He pulled out copies of documents.
“Your mother’s signature.””
Gabriel looked at the papers.
The handwriting was familiar.
He had seen it on old family documents.
On birthday cards.
On letters.
But the dates…
The dates were impossible.
Daniel looked over his shoulder.
“Who has been signing these?””
Thomas folded the documents.
“Someone who inherited more than money.””
Gabriel’s voice became quiet.
“Where is she?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at Daniel.
“Tell him.””
Daniel looked away.
“Daniel.””
His brother’s face tightened.
“I saw her.””
Gabriel froze.
“When?””
“Years ago.””
“You knew?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
Gabriel felt anger rising.
“How many secrets have you been keeping from me?””
Daniel looked hurt.
“More than I wanted.””
The honesty stopped Gabriel.
Because Daniel wasn’t defending himself.
He was admitting everything.
“I found her after I escaped from Thomas.””
Gabriel stared.
“Escaped?””
Daniel nodded.
“He didn’t just separate us. He controlled my life.””
Thomas remained silent.
Almost as if he accepted the accusation.
Daniel continued.
“I found our mother.””
Gabriel’s voice dropped.
“And?””
“She was alive.””
The station seemed to disappear.
Gabriel grabbed the bench for support.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
“She was in a private medical facility.””
Gabriel’s breathing became uneven.
“For twenty years?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at Thomas.
“Because she knew the truth.””
Thomas finally spoke.
“And because she was afraid.””
Gabriel turned toward him.
“Afraid of you?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
For the first time, Gabriel saw something behind Thomas’s calm expression.
Not confidence.
Fear.
His phone rang again.
This time, it was Claire.
He answered immediately.
“Claire?””
Her voice was rushed.
“Gabriel, you need to listen carefully.””
“What happened?””
“I found something hidden in the company archives.””
“What?””
“A sealed file from twenty-five years ago.””
Gabriel waited.
Claire continued:
“It contains information about your father’s death.””
His heart stopped.
“Send it to me.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because someone deleted it while I was looking at it.””
Gabriel looked at Thomas.
The old man’s expression changed slightly.
Someone else was moving pieces behind the scenes.
Someone with access.
Someone powerful.
Claire whispered:
“Gabriel…”
“What?””
“The person who deleted the file left one message behind.””
Gabriel tightened his grip on the phone.
“What message?””
Silence.
Then Claire said:
“They wrote…”
She stopped.
“Claire?””
Her voice became fearful.
“They wrote: ‘Ask Gabriel why his mother chose Thomas over him.’”
The call ended.
Gabriel stood frozen.
Thomas looked at him.
Daniel looked confused.
And for the first time in twenty years…
Gabriel wondered if the person who had abandoned him was not the person he thought.
Because somewhere out there…
May you like
His mother had a choice.
And she chose to disappear.
