Chapter 17: The Final Betrayal
I couldn’t move.
The letter remained in my hands.
My mother’s final warning.
The person who betrayed her was someone who claimed to love her.
Everyone looked at each other.
My father looked terrified.
Diane looked confused.
Evelyn looked like she already knew something.
I noticed.
And that scared me.
“You know.””
Evelyn looked at me.
“What?””
“You have that look.””
She lowered her eyes.
“Nia…”
“You know who she meant.””
Silence.
My father stood.
“Evelyn.””
She looked at him.
“Richard, you need to tell her.””
My father’s face changed.
“Tell me what?””
He sat down slowly.
“I was not alone when your mother confronted me.””
My chest tightened.
“Who was with you?””
He didn’t answer.
I already knew.
“Who?””
His voice was barely audible.
“Evelyn.””
The room froze.
I turned toward the attorney.
“What?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Richard.””
“Tell her.””
I stared.
“You were there?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked devastated.
“Because your mother called me.””
My mind raced.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“She knew you were helping Marcus?””
“No.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“She knew I was being threatened.””
I remembered the letter.
My mother knew Evelyn was afraid.
But what happened that night?
“What did you see?””
Evelyn was silent for a long time.
Then she spoke.
“Your mother confronted Richard about the financial documents.””
My father looked away.
“She was angry.””
“She had every right.””
Evelyn nodded.
“She asked him to leave Marcus.””
“And?””
Richard whispered:
“I refused.””
The admission hurt.
Even after everything, it still hurt.
Evelyn continued.
“Your mother told Richard she would expose everything.””
I looked at my father.
“What did you do?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“I left.””
The room went silent.
“You left her?””
He nodded.
“I was ashamed.””
“Mom was dying.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice broke.
“You never understood what she needed from you.””
My father covered his face.
Evelyn continued.
“After Richard left, someone else arrived.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
She looked at Diane.
Diane went pale.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
Evelyn whispered:
“Diane.””
I stared.
Diane shook her head.
“I didn’t hurt her.””
“Then why were you there?””
Diane looked broken.
“Because Marcus told me to go.””
My stomach dropped.
“What happened?””
Diane sat down.
“I went there to get the documents.””
Everyone froze.
“You were going to steal from my mother?””
She cried.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“But when I got there…”
She stopped.
“When you got there what?””
Diane looked at me.
“She was already unconscious.””
Nobody spoke.
“Someone had been in the room.””
“Who?””
Diane shook her head.
“I never saw their face.””
A chill went through me.
“Then how do you know they weren’t Marcus?””
“Because Marcus called me while I was there.””
The room went quiet.
“He was asking if I had found the documents.””
Evelyn frowned.
“Then who was there?””
Diane looked toward the hallway.
“I don’t know.””
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
I answered.
A voice spoke.
“Nia.””
My blood turned cold.
Because I knew that voice.
“Marcus?””
“No.””
A pause.
Then:
“Listen carefully.””
The voice sounded older.
Tired.
Terrified.
“I know who killed your mother.””
I looked around the room.
“Who is this?””
The voice whispered:
“Someone who has been protecting you from the truth.””
My heart raced.
“Tell me.””
The person hesitated.
Then said:
“Your mother didn’t die because of Marcus.””
A pause.
“She died because of your father.””
I froze.
My father stood immediately.
“What?””
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Everyone looked at Richard.
May you like
And for the first time…
I wondered if the man who failed to protect my mother had done something much worse.
