Chapter 5 - MY SISTER WASN'T WHO I THOUGHT SHE WAS
Vanessa was released two hours later.
She came directly to the house.
She looked exhausted.
When she saw me, she stopped.
“You know.”
I nodded.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew about the trust.”
“I knew Mom was hiding something.”
“What about my father?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know.”
I showed her the birth certificate.
Her face went white.
“Oh my God.”
“Did you know I wasn't Mom's biological son?”
She stared at the floor.
“Mom told me when I was seventeen.”
I felt betrayed.
“You knew for that long?”
“She made me swear.”
“Why?”
“Because she said if you ever found out, you'd take everything away from us.”
I laughed.
“Everything?”
Vanessa cried.
“Thane, I was seventeen.”
“You're thirty-two.”
“And I was afraid of her.”
That stopped me.
“Afraid?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Mom controls everything.”
I looked toward the stairs.
“Why was she attacking Alora?”
Vanessa's face changed.
“Because Alora found the bank records.”
“What bank records?”
“The transfers.”
“What transfers?”
Vanessa pulled out her phone.
“I discovered them six months ago.”
She showed me a spreadsheet.
Millions of dollars.
Accounts.
Shell companies.
Dates.
Recipients.
And one name repeated again and again.
Margaret Hale.
I stared.
“The woman in the photograph.”
Vanessa nodded.
“Mom has been sending her money for years.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Then Vanessa looked at me.
“But I know what Dad was investigating before he died.”
“What?”
“She was blackmailing him.”
“About what?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“About you.”
I felt my heart pound.
“Me?”
“She knew you were his biological son.”
“So?”
“She threatened to expose your identity.”
“That isn't blackmail.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“She didn't just know who you were.”
She paused.
“She knew what happened to your birth mother.”
The room became silent.
“What happened?”
Vanessa whispered:
“Evelyn didn't die in an accident.”
I stared at her.
“Then how?”
“She was murdered.”
Alora covered her mouth.
“By whom?”
Vanessa looked toward the staircase.
“That's what Dad was trying to prove.”
I suddenly remembered my father's letter.
Your mother did not kill me.
But she knew who did.
I turned toward Kareen's bedroom.
“She knows.”
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then we're going to make her talk.”
We found Kareen downstairs.
She looked at me.
“You're becoming just like your father.”
“Good.”
She smiled sadly.
“No. That's what killed him.”
I sat across from her.
“Tell me who killed Evelyn.”
Kareen stared at me.
“Your father did.”
My entire body went cold.
“What?”
“He didn't mean to.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“He was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From Margaret.”
Kareen began crying.
“Margaret was obsessed with your father. She threatened to destroy everything.”
“And Evelyn?”
“She discovered the affair.”
“What happened?”
“Your father confronted Margaret.”
“And?”
“Evelyn was caught in the middle.”
I stared.
“How did she die?”
Kareen whispered:
“She fell from the balcony.”
“Who pushed her?”
Kareen looked directly at me.
“Margaret.”
Silence.
Then I asked:
“Why did my father cover it up?”
Kareen's face collapsed.
“Because you were there.”
I couldn't breathe.
“I was four months old.”
“You were in Evelyn's arms.”
Alora grabbed my hand.
Kareen continued.
“Your father believed Margaret would kill you too.”
“So he took me.”
“Yes.”
“And you raised me.”
“Yes.”
I stared at the woman who had just attacked my pregnant wife.
“You saved me.”
Kareen shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Alora.
“I destroyed you.”
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Because Margaret has been controlling this family ever since.”
