Chapter 10: The Secret Margaret Kept
I drove to Margaret’s house with one thought repeating in my mind.
Why?
Why would she help Vanessa?
Why would the woman who had loved Nia since the day she was born suddenly sign a statement that could take her away from me?
The answer had to be complicated.
Because nothing else made sense.
Margaret opened the door before I even knocked twice.
The moment she saw my face, she knew.
Her expression changed.
“Ethan…”
I held up the paperwork Rachel had sent me.
“Why?””
Her shoulders dropped.
She didn’t pretend not to understand.
She didn’t ask what I was talking about.
She just looked away.
That hurt more than anger would have.
“Come inside.””
I stepped through the doorway.
The house smelled the same as always.
Fresh coffee.
Lavender candles.
The same place where Nia spent every summer weekend.
The same place where Margaret kept pictures of her daughter and granddaughter everywhere.
I placed the documents on the table.
“Explain.””
Margaret sat down slowly.
“I never wanted it to come to this.””
My voice became sharper.
“But it did.””
She looked at me.
“Ethan, I need you to understand something.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I’ve spent two days hearing people tell me to understand.””
I pointed at the papers.
“My daughter is the one everyone keeps hurting.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
She didn’t defend herself.
“I was wrong.””
I stared at her.
“Then why?””
She folded her hands together.
“Because Vanessa knew something about me.””
The room went quiet.
“What?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Something I never wanted you to know.””
I waited.
Eight years of grief.
Two days of betrayal.
I was done waiting.
“What is it?””
She looked toward the old family photos on the wall.
“When Emily died…”
Her voice broke.
“I blamed you.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
I stepped back slightly.
“What?””
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“You were her husband. You were supposed to protect her.””
My jaw tightened.
“I tried.””
“I know.””
Her voice softened.
“And that’s why I hate myself for what I did.””
“What did you do?””
Margaret looked at me.
“After Emily died, I was angry. I was lost. I thought Nia needed someone stronger than you.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“You thought I couldn’t raise my own daughter?””
“No.””
She shook her head quickly.
“I knew you loved her.””
“Then what?””
“I thought your grief would make you weak.””
The same accusation.
The same idea Vanessa used.
I laughed bitterly.
“So Vanessa found that weakness.””
Margaret nodded.
“She contacted me months ago.””
I stared.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Emily.””
My heart stopped.
“What does Emily have to do with Vanessa?””
Margaret looked terrified.
“She found Emily’s old records.””
I frowned.
“What records?””
“Emily’s journal.””
The room seemed to tilt.
“My wife had a journal?””
Margaret nodded.
“She gave it to me before she died.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because she asked me not to.””
I went silent.
“She knew something was wrong,” Margaret continued.
“With who?””
Margaret looked down.
“With Emily’s sister.””
I froze.
“Her sister?””
“Yes.””
I felt confused.
“I don’t understand.””
Margaret took a deep breath.
“Before Emily died, she discovered someone had been accessing her private information.””
“Who?””
“She suspected someone close.””
“Was it Vanessa?””
“No.””
Margaret looked at me.
“Vanessa came later.””
I frowned.
“Then why is she involved?””
“Because she found the journal.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“She was searching through old family records.””
“For what?””
Margaret hesitated.
Then said:
“For anything she could use.””
I stood there silently.
Everything was becoming darker.
Vanessa wasn’t just manipulating people.
She was searching for weaknesses.
Mine.
Nia’s.
Everyone’s.
“Why did you sign the statement?””
Margaret looked ashamed.
“Because Vanessa threatened me.””
“With what?””
“She knew about the journal.””
I stared.
“She said if I didn’t cooperate, she would tell you that Emily blamed you for everything.””
My face went pale.
“That’s a lie.””
“Yes.””
Margaret nodded.
“But she knew I was afraid.””
I looked at the paperwork.
“So you helped her attack me to protect yourself?””
Margaret began crying.
“I know how it looks.””
“It looks like you betrayed my daughter.””
The words hurt both of us.
Margaret covered her face.
“I’m sorry.””
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But I also saw something else.
Fear.
She wasn’t working with Vanessa because she wanted Nia gone.
She had been manipulated.
Just like I was.
“Where is Emily’s journal?””
Margaret looked up.
“In my bedroom.””
“Get it.””
She hesitated.
“Ethan…”
“Get it.””
A few minutes later, she returned holding a small leather notebook.
The cover was worn.
The edges were damaged.
My hands shook when I touched it.
“She wrote about everything,” Margaret whispered.
I opened the first page.
Emily’s handwriting.
My wife’s voice.
After eight years.
I turned pages slowly.
Most of it was memories.
About Nia.
About me.
About the life we built.
Then I found the final entries.
The last week before her death.
The handwriting became rushed.
Uneven.
*Someone is watching our family.*
I stopped.
Another line.
*Ethan thinks I’m being paranoid, but I know something is wrong.*
My throat tightened.
Another page.
*If anything happens to me, I need someone to protect Nia from the people who want to use her.*
I looked at Margaret.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
Because she didn’t know.
I turned the page.
And saw one sentence written at the bottom.
A sentence that made my blood run cold.
*The person closest to us is not who they claim to be.*
Then my phone rang.
Rachel.
I answered.
Her voice was urgent.
“Ethan, you need to get home.””
“What happened?””
“It’s Nia.””
My heart stopped.
May you like
“What about her?””
“She’s missing.””
