Chapter 14 - THE LETTER
Vanessa's mother had died when she was sixteen.
There had been no secrets.
At least, Vanessa thought there hadn't been.
Evelyn claimed otherwise.
“She left something behind.”
“What?”
“A letter.”
“Where?”
“Your childhood home.”
The next morning, Vanessa returned to the house where she had grown up.
Every room carried memories.
Her mother's piano.
The old photographs.
The faded wallpaper.
Marcus searched the attic.
Ethan searched the study.
Lily stayed downstairs with security.
Then Vanessa found a loose panel beneath the piano.
Inside was an envelope.
Her mother's handwriting.
She opened it.
The letter explained everything.
Vanessa's mother had known about the financial network.
She had also known Ethan's mother.
The two women had planned to expose the men controlling the money.
But they realized they were being watched.
The letter contained one final revelation.
There was another account.
One that belonged to neither Ethan's father nor Victor.
It belonged to Evelyn.
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“She lied.”
Marcus nodded.
“Of course she did.”
Then Vanessa read the final paragraph.
If anything happens to me, protect Vanessa. Do not trust anyone who claims they are protecting the family.
Vanessa began crying.
Her mother had known.
She had been warning her all along.
Ethan stepped closer.
“You don't have to carry this alone.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“I spent my whole life thinking secrets protected people.”
“They don't.”
“They protect the people telling them.”
He nodded.
The door downstairs suddenly slammed.
Security shouted.
A gunshot echoed.
Ethan pulled Vanessa down.
Lily screamed.
Marcus ran downstairs.
They found a broken window.
No attacker.
Only a message carved into the wooden table.
LAST CHANCE.
Vanessa stared at it.
“No.”
Ethan looked at her.
“What?”
“We don't run anymore.”
May you like
She folded the letter.
“We finish this.”
