Chapter 9: The Message From Beyond the Grave
The next morning, I went to my mother’s attorney’s office.
I didn’t tell Victoria.
I didn’t tell anyone except Grandma.
Not because I didn’t trust my father.
Not completely.
But because I no longer knew who deserved my trust.
The building was old.
A quiet brick structure downtown with narrow windows and faded gold lettering above the entrance.
I stood outside for several minutes before walking in.
My mother had been here.
She had walked through these doors.
She had sat in these rooms.
She had prepared for a future she knew she might never see.
A receptionist looked up when I entered.
“Can I help you?””
I hesitated.
“I’m looking for information about Daniel Carter’s family estate.””
The woman studied me.
Then her expression softened.
“You’re Emily.””
I froze.
“How do you know my name?””
She stood.
“Because we’ve been expecting you.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
She looked toward the hallway.
“Mr. Hayes left instructions.””
Robert.
The same man who had brought the documents.
He walked out holding a file.
“I was hoping you would come.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this yesterday?””
“Because your grandmother was right.””
I frowned.
“About what?””
“You needed to see who people were before you saw what they had to say.””
I didn’t know whether to trust him.
So I didn’t.
“What did my mother leave?””
Robert opened the file.
“A video.””
My breath caught.
“A video?””
He nodded.
“Your mother recorded a message for you.””
My hands shook.
“Why?””
“Because she believed there would come a time when you needed to hear her voice.””
I sat down.
Robert placed a small tablet in front of me.
The screen showed a date.
Ten years earlier.
The day before she died.
I stared.
“I don’t know if I can do this.””
Robert looked at me.
“She knew you would say that.””
I almost smiled.
Everyone kept saying that.
My mother knew me better than I knew myself.
I pressed play.
The screen flickered.
Then there she was.
My mother.
Older.
Tired.
But smiling.
“Hi, my beautiful girl.””
The tears came immediately.
I covered my mouth.
Her voice continued.
“If you’re watching this, then I’m not there to explain things myself.””
She took a breath.
“I’m sorry.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Even though she couldn’t hear me.
Even though she wasn’t really there.
“No.””
The video continued.
“I want you to know something important. Nothing that happened was your fault.””
My heart broke.
She had known.
She had known I would blame myself.
She smiled softly.
“You have always been brave, Emily. Even when you thought you were just surviving.””
I cried silently.
Then her expression changed.
Serious.
“If Victoria is involved, be careful.””
My body went still.
“She is not the person she wants people to believe.””
Robert looked away, giving me privacy.
My mother continued.
“I discovered that Victoria had been manipulating information about our family for a long time.””
The screen paused.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
“But the most important thing I found was not about Victoria.””
My breathing stopped.
“It was about your father.””
I looked up.
The video continued.
“Daniel loves you.””
I felt confused.
“Even when he fails, even when he makes mistakes, he loves you.””
My tears slowed.
“But love does not erase consequences.””
My mother lowered her eyes.
“There is something he has never told you.””
The room became cold.
“He believes he caused my illness.””
I froze.
“What?””
Robert looked at me.
The video continued.
“Emily, your father made choices he regrets. But the truth is complicated.””
My mother leaned closer.
“And Victoria knows only part of that truth.””
The screen went black.
The video ended.
I stared.
“That’s it?””
Robert nodded.
“That’s all we recovered.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
Something felt wrong.
“My mother wouldn’t stop there.””
Robert hesitated.
That hesitation made my heart pound.
“What?””
He sighed.
“There was another file.””
“Where is it?””
“It disappeared.””
My hands curled into fists.
“Who deleted it?””
Robert looked at me.
“We don’t know.””
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A few seconds later, his face changed.
“What happened?””
He ended the call slowly.
Then looked at me.
“Your house alarm just went off.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Robert grabbed his coat.
“Someone is inside.””
I stood.
“Who?””
He looked at me.
May you like
And the answer terrified me.
“Someone who knew exactly where your mother hid the evidence.””
