Chapter 7: The Secret Behind My Mother's Death
“Because I wasn't the only person who knew your wife was in danger.””
Vanessa's words hung in the hallway.
My father stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the woman he had married six years earlier. I had never seen him look at her with such open disbelief.
“What does that mean?”” he demanded.
Vanessa clutched the strap of her handbag.
“I didn't mean it the way it sounded.””
“Then explain what you meant.””
She glanced toward me.
“Not in front of Nia.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“My daughter has spent six years being told that she doesn't belong in this family. She has earned the right to hear the truth.””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“Richard, you're making a mistake.””
“No. I'm asking you a question.””
He stepped closer.
“Did you know Margaret was in danger before she died?””
Vanessa shook her head too quickly.
“I knew she was ill.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
“She was under tremendous stress. She wasn't sleeping. She was convinced people were trying to take her daughter away from her.””
“Which daughter?””
Vanessa froze.
Dad's voice dropped.
“Margaret had two daughters, didn't she? Nia and Lily. Which one was she afraid of losing?””
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely cornered.
I stood near the bottom of the staircase, gripping my phone so tightly that my fingers hurt.
I wanted to run upstairs.
I wanted to hide beneath my blankets and pretend that none of this was happening.
But I also wanted to know why my mother had died.
I wanted to know why Vanessa had spent years making me feel worthless.
And I wanted to know what had happened to Lily.
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Margaret was unstable toward the end. You know that, Richard.””
Dad stared at her.
“I remember a woman who was frightened, exhausted, and desperate to find her child. I remember a doctor telling me her death was a tragic medical event.””
He paused.
“And now I have a document bearing that doctor's signature, connected to an adoption my wife tried to conceal.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't understand the circumstances.””
“Then explain them.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Dad reached for his phone.
“I'm calling the hospital.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“No!””
The word came out so loudly that I flinched.
Dad lowered his phone.
Vanessa realized what she had done.
She forced herself to speak more quietly.
“Please, Richard. We should discuss this privately. There are things about my family you don't know.””
“Then tell me.””
She looked toward the living room.
“Not here.””
“Why not?””
“Because I don't want Nia hearing things that could hurt her.””
I stepped forward.
“I'm already hurt.””
Vanessa turned toward me.
For a moment, her face twisted with anger.
“You have no idea what your mother did!””
“Then tell me!””
My voice cracked, but I didn't stop.
“You keep saying she wasn't who I think she was. You keep telling Daddy to leave things alone. You threatened me when I found her letter. If you know something, tell us!””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“You ungrateful little—”
“Finish that sentence,” Dad interrupted.
She stopped.
He pointed toward the living room.
“Sit down. Both of you.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You can't order me around.””
“I can ask you to explain why you concealed your relationship with my first wife. I can ask why you were involved in Lily's adoption. And I can ask why you made a statement about Margaret being in danger.””
His voice remained calm, but there was no warmth in it.
“If you refuse to answer, I'll let the proper professionals investigate.””
Vanessa slowly lowered herself onto the sofa.
Dad sat opposite her.
I remained standing beside him.
For a long moment, Vanessa stared at her hands.
Then she began to speak.
“Margaret and I grew up in different households. Our father was a difficult man. He favored Margaret because she was clever, obedient, and good at making people believe she could do no wrong.””
Dad listened without interrupting.
“When Lily was born, Margaret was young and overwhelmed. She was afraid she couldn't provide the life the child deserved. She asked me to help find a family.””
“Did she sign the adoption papers?”” Dad asked.
“Yes.””
“Voluntarily?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“She signed some papers.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I don't remember every detail!””
Dad leaned forward.
“Then we'll find the documents.””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“You think paperwork will tell you everything? You think you can understand what happened between two sisters by reading a few letters?””
“No,” Dad replied.
“But it might tell us why you lied.””
She stood abruptly.
“I didn't lie!””
“You told Nia she was someone else's child, even though you were her aunt.””
Vanessa's face went white.
I watched her.
“You knew Mommy was looking for Lily,” I said.
“Didn't you?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Answer her,” Dad said.
“Yes,” she whispered.
The admission made my chest tighten.
“Then why didn't you help her?””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
“Because Margaret wouldn't accept that Lily had been placed with another family.””
“She was her mother!”” I cried.
“And I was trying to help!””
Dad stood.
“By refusing to tell her where her daughter was?””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“You don't know what she was like! She accused me of stealing money. She said I had betrayed her. She threatened to expose things that would destroy both our lives.””
“What things?””
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she looked toward the staircase, as if searching for a way out.
“I won't discuss this anymore.””
Dad reached for his phone.
“Then I will discuss it with the hospital and the authorities.””
Vanessa's composure shattered.
“You can't do that!””
“Watch me.””
She grabbed her handbag and hurried toward the door.
But before she reached it, Dad spoke again.
“One more question.””
She stopped.
“Were you involved in Margaret's death?””
Vanessa turned slowly.
For a moment, her face was completely blank.
Then she laughed.
It was a small, broken sound.
“You really think I killed my own sister?””
“I think you know something you're refusing to tell me.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I loved Margaret.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did you treat me like you hated her?””
Her face crumpled.
For one second, I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she wiped her cheeks and straightened her coat.
“Because every time I looked at you, I remembered everything she took from me.””
Then she walked out.
The front door slammed.
Dad stood motionless.
I had never heard Vanessa admit that she hated me.
Not directly.
She had called me a burden, an inconvenience, and someone else's child.
But now I understood that my existence reminded her of something she had lost.
It didn't excuse anything she had done.
It only made the hatred more frightening.
Dad turned toward me.
“I'm sorry you had to hear that.””
I swallowed.
“Daddy, do you think she hurt Mommy?””
He took a long breath.
“I don't know.””
“Do you think she knows who did?””
He looked at the closed door.
“I think we need answers.””
That night, Dad called his lawyer and arranged for the hospital records to be reviewed. He also contacted a specialist who could examine the adoption documents.
He insisted that I sleep in the guest bedroom next to his.
For the first time in years, I didn't argue when someone told me I needed help.
I was too tired.
Just before midnight, my phone vibrated.
A message from Lily.
I found another letter. I think it's important.
I opened the attachment.
The letter was addressed to my mother and dated three days before her death.
Margaret,
I have done what you asked. I contacted the hospital and confirmed the records were altered. But I cannot protect you if you continue confronting the people involved.
Please meet me tomorrow. Come alone.
There was no signature.
Only a small handwritten mark at the bottom.
A capital *R*.
I stared at it.
Then I remembered the name on the document Lily had sent earlier.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
But the letter's handwriting looked different from the doctor's signature.
I sent Lily a message asking where she'd found it.
Her reply came almost immediately.
It was inside a sealed envelope with my adoption records. The envelope was addressed to Margaret, but it was never delivered.
I hurried to Dad's room.
He was still awake, sitting at his desk with a stack of papers spread before him.
“Daddy, look.””
He read the letter.
His face became very still.
“Where did Lily find this?””
I explained.
He turned the page over, examining the paper.
“This may be important.””
“Because of the hospital records?””
“Yes. But there's something else.””
He pointed to the date.
“Your mother died three days after this letter was written.””
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?””
“It means we need to find out who wrote it and whether your mother ever received it.””
He reached for his phone.
Before he could dial, it rang.
The hospital's records administrator was calling him back.
Dad answered and put the phone on speaker.
“Mr. Bennett,” a woman said, “we've located part of your wife's archived medical file. However, there is a discrepancy that requires further investigation.””
“What kind of discrepancy?””
“The attending physician's signature appears on a discharge authorization, but the timestamp doesn't match the hospital's electronic records.””
Dad looked at me.
“Was Dr. Samuel Reed the attending physician?””
“Yes.””
“Did he authorize my wife's discharge?””
There was a pause.
“According to the paper record, yes. According to the hospital's digital audit, the authorization was entered after the recorded time of death.””
I stopped breathing.
Dad gripped the phone.
“Are you saying someone altered the records?””
“We cannot make that determination yet. We are preserving the original documents and escalating the matter for a formal review.””
Dad thanked her and ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he pulled me into his arms.
“Whatever happened to your mother, Nia, we are going to find out.””
I pressed my face against his shoulder.
For years, I had believed my mother's death was a tragedy that had simply happened.
Now, for the first time, I wondered whether someone had made choices that led to it.
And if Vanessa knew the truth, she had been hiding it beneath our roof all along.
The next morning, Dad received another call.
It was from his lawyer.
He listened for less than a minute before standing.
“What do you mean she's leaving the country?””
I sat up on the bed.
Dad turned toward me.
“Vanessa has booked a flight for tonight.””
He ended the call and stared at his phone.
Then a second message appeared.
It contained a photograph of a suitcase beside Vanessa's bedroom door.
And beneath it was a note from the housekeeper.
Sir, Mrs. Bennett has been packing documents since six this morning. I think you should see what she is taking.
Dad looked at me.
His face had hardened.
“Get dressed, sweetheart.””
“Where are we going?””
May you like
He picked up his keys.
“To find out what your stepmother is so desperate to hide.””
