Chapter 16: The Secret Behind Walter’s Fear
Marcus stared at the message on Renata’s phone.
Four words.
That was all.
*I know what you did.*
But those four words carried more weight than any accusation.
More weight than any document.
More weight than every secret we had uncovered.
Because they came from Walter.
And Walter was not a man who made empty threats.
“What did he know?”” Marcus asked.
Renata watched him carefully.
For the first time since I had met her, she looked uncertain.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus laughed quietly.
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You do.””
Renata looked away.
“Your father was always suspicious.””
“That’s not what the message says.””
She crossed her arms.
“You’re making a mistake.””
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I made my mistake when I trusted you.””
The words landed.
Renata’s face hardened.
“You really think your mother and those people have told you everything?””
“I think you’ve told me nothing.””
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Renata stood.
“You want the truth?””
Marcus said nothing.
She leaned closer.
“Your father wasn’t scared of me.””
“Then what?””
“He was scared of what would happen if people found out what he did.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What did he do?””
Renata smiled.
Not happily.
More like someone finally reaching the part of the story they had been waiting to tell.
“Ask your mother.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Stop saying that.””
“Why?””
“Because every time someone says that, it’s because they want me to doubt her.””
Renata looked surprised.
Then she laughed softly.
“Maybe you’re finally learning.””
Marcus left.
But he didn’t come home immediately.
He drove.
For nearly an hour.
When he finally returned, it was after midnight.
I was still awake.
I knew he would come back.
Some wounds don’t let people sleep.
He walked into the kitchen.
“Mom.””
I looked at him.
“What happened?””
He placed his phone on the table.
I saw the message.
My heart dropped.
“Where did you get this?””
“Renata.””
I looked at him.
“Did she explain?””
“No.””
“Did she tell you what it meant?””
“No.””
He pulled out a chair.
“Because she wanted me to ask you.””
I sat down.
For a moment, I considered lying.
Not because I wanted to protect myself.
Because I wanted to protect him.
But I had spent too many years protecting people from the truth.
Maybe that was how secrets grew.
“I know what she’s talking about,” I said.
Marcus looked up.
“You do?””
“Yes.””
The disappointment in his eyes hurt.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
“How many more things are there?””
I looked at my hands.
“One.””
“One more secret?””
“Yes.””
“About Dad?””
I nodded.
“About the night he died.””
The room became silent.
Marcus waited.
I took a breath.
“Your father didn’t die believing he had failed.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“He died believing he had one final thing to fix.””
“What?””
“Henry Vale.””
Marcus stared.
“But Henry was already part of the past.””
“Not completely.””
I explained.
After Walter discovered Renata’s involvement with the estate, he began investigating again.
But this time, he found something worse.
Henry wasn’t just trying to reclaim the company.
He had been using Renata to gather information.
But Renata wasn’t following his orders.
She was making her own moves.
“She betrayed her own father?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Why?””
“Because Henry wanted control.””
“And she wanted?””
I looked at him.
“The entire empire.””
Marcus leaned back.
“So Dad knew.””
“Yes.””
“And he tried to stop her.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t he tell me?””
I closed my eyes.
“Because three days before he died, Walter discovered something that terrified him.””
“What?””
I reached into the drawer beside me.
I had kept the envelope for years.
Waiting.
Hoping I would never need to open it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Walter’s handwriting.
I gave it to Marcus.
He read the first line.
Then froze.
*Renata knows about the original shares. She knows Evelyn still has legal ownership.*
Marcus looked at me.
“Original shares?””
I nodded.
“Evelyn never lost everything.””
His eyes widened.
“Then who owns the company?””
I answered quietly.
“Technically?””
A pause.
“Not us.””
Marcus stared.
“Then who?””
Before I could answer, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He looked at the screen.
Then answered.
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Marcus Hale?””
“Yes.””
“This is Evelyn Carter.””
Marcus sat up.
“I need to speak with you.””
“About what?””
Her voice became serious.
“About the person who has been secretly controlling your father’s company for years.””
Marcus looked at me.
“Who?””
May you like
Evelyn answered.
And the name she said was one neither of us expected.
