Chapter 8: The Last Witness
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Alexander stared at the phone screen like it had become something dangerous.
“She knew.””
Richard nodded.
“She always knew more than we thought.””
Thomas closed the curtains.
“We need to leave.””
I looked at him.
“Leave where?””
“Somewhere Eleanor cannot reach.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“If Eleanor wanted Sarah gone, she would have acted already.””
Alexander frowned.
“What are you saying?””
Richard looked toward the hidden folder on the table.
“She is not trying to hide anymore.””
A silence followed.
“She is trying to force us into making mistakes.””
The police increased security around the mansion, but nobody felt safe.
Not with Eleanor still free.
Not with someone inside the company still helping her.
And not with so many unanswered questions.
That evening, Richard sat across from me in the study.
For the first time, I was alone with the man who was supposed to be my father-in-law.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For failing your mother.””
The honesty in his voice surprised me.
“My whole life, I thought I didn’t have anyone.””
Richard looked down.
“You had more family than you knew.””
I swallowed.
“Why didn’t you find me?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because Eleanor convinced me you were safer if she believed you were ordinary.””
“Ordinary?””
“Yes.””
He looked at my stomach.
“She never knew the truth about your pregnancy until recently.””
I frowned.
“But she knew.””
“She knew you were pregnant.””
He paused.
“She didn’t know who the child would become.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
“She thought she could erase the future.””
Richard nodded.
“Exactly.””
The study door opened.
Alexander entered.
“We found the person helping Eleanor.””
Everyone stood.
“Who?””
Alexander looked furious.
“Victor Hale.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“The board chairman?””
“Yes.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“That explains everything.””
I looked confused.
“Who is Victor Hale?””
Alexander answered.
“My father’s oldest business partner.””
Richard nodded.
“He was the only person besides me who knew about the trust.””
My stomach dropped.
“So he told Eleanor.””
“Or helped her create the entire plan.””
The next morning, Victor disappeared.
His office was empty.
His assistant claimed he had left suddenly.
His company accounts were frozen.
But one thing remained.
A message.
Sent directly to Alexander.
A video file.
Alexander opened it.
Eleanor appeared on the screen.
She sat in a private room.
Calm.
Perfectly composed.
“I know you’re watching this.””
Alexander’s face hardened.
Eleanor continued.
“You think you’ve won because you found old documents and dead men returning.””
She smiled.
“But you still don’t understand.””
I stepped closer.
“What does she mean?””
The video continued.
“Sarah believes this is about money.””
Eleanor leaned forward.
“It isn’t.””
My heart started racing.
“Then what is it?””
Eleanor looked directly into the camera.
“It’s about what her mother did before she disappeared.””
Richard went still.
Alexander looked at him.
“What is she talking about?””
Eleanor continued.
“Your precious Sarah was raised believing she lost everything.””
A pause.
“But the truth is…”
The screen flickered.
Then Eleanor said:
“Her mother chose to abandon her.””
I felt like the air had been knocked out of me.
“No.””
Richard immediately shook his head.
“Don’t listen to her.””
But Eleanor’s voice continued.
“Ask Richard why he never told Sarah the truth.””
The video ended.
Silence filled the room.
I looked at Richard.
My voice trembled.
“Is it true?””
Richard looked devastated.
“Sarah…”
“Did my mother leave me?””
Nobody answered.
And somehow, that was worse.
Because before this moment, I had only been afraid of Eleanor.
Now I was afraid of my own past.
Richard slowly reached into his pocket.
He pulled out another envelope.
“I was waiting for the right time.””
My hands shook.
“What is that?””
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“The final letter from your mother.””
I stared at the envelope.
My name was written across it again.
But this time…
There was a date.
The date after I was supposedly abandoned.
Richard whispered:
“She never left you.””
My heart stopped.
“Then where was she?””
Richard looked at the letter.
May you like
And before opening it, he said the words that changed everything.
“Your mother was alive for twelve years after the world thought she was gone.””
