Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Eleanor Voss agreed to meet us the next morning.
Not at her office.
Not at a restaurant.
At my mother’s favorite coffee shop.
The same place she used to take me when I was little.
I almost turned around when I arrived.
Everything felt too connected.
Too many ghosts.
Too many secrets.
Ryan squeezed my hand.
“You don’t have to do this alone.””
I looked at him.
“I know.””
And I meant it.
For the first time in days, I knew exactly who was standing beside me.
Eleanor was already sitting in the corner.
She was in her seventies, with silver hair and sharp eyes.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
“Oh, Clara.””
Her voice broke.
“You look exactly like your mother.””
I smiled sadly.
“I hear that a lot.””
“Good.””
She touched my hand.
“Because she would want you to know that.””
We sat down.
Mark stayed quiet.
I noticed.
Usually, Mark filled silence.
Today, he looked like he was preparing for judgment.
Eleanor opened a folder.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Letters.
Records.
“This is everything your mother wanted you to have.””
I looked at the papers.
“Why now?””
“Because she left instructions.””
“What instructions?””
“That you receive them after your wedding.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
Eleanor looked at Ryan.
“Because your mother believed the person you married would matter.””
I felt a lump in my throat.
“She thought about Ryan?””
“She didn’t know his name.””
I looked confused.
“She meant that she wanted you surrounded by people who loved you for you.””
I looked down.
That hurt.
Because I had spent so much time searching for a father that I ignored the people who had already chosen me.
Eleanor opened the first file.
“Your mother discovered something about Victor six months before she died.””
“What?””
“He had been contacting your grandfather’s financial advisers.””
My heart sank.
“For the trust?””
“Yes.””
“Did he have access?””
“No.””
“Then what was he trying to do?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“Convince them that he was your legal father and should control your inheritance.””
I felt sick.
“He tried to take it?””
“Yes.””
Mark looked away.
“I knew some of this.””
I looked at him.
“Some?””
He nodded.
“I didn’t know everything.””
Eleanor continued.
“Your mother fought him legally.””
“What happened?””
“Victor lost.””
“Then why did he leave?””
Eleanor opened another document.
“This.””
I looked down.
A court order.
My eyes moved across the page.
Custody agreement.
Temporary restrictions.
My breathing changed.
“What is this?””
“Your mother discovered Victor had been using company funds illegally.””
Victor’s voice suddenly echoed in my head.
I had problems.
Business problems.
“You’re saying he was in trouble?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t he fight?””
Eleanor gave me a sad look.
“Because fighting meant everything would become public.””
I stared at the document.
“And he chose to leave.””
“Yes.””
The truth was somehow worse than the lie.
Because he had choices.
He always had choices.
Eleanor handed me another paper.
“This is the final thing.””
I unfolded it.
It was a letter.
From Victor.
But it wasn’t addressed to me.
It was addressed to my mother.
I read the first line.
“Give me access to the trust, or you will regret making me walk away.””
My stomach dropped.
“He threatened her?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Eleanor looked at Mark.
“Because your mother asked us not to.””
I looked at Mark.
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“She wanted you to have a childhood.””
I closed my eyes.
A childhood.
The thing I thought she had taken from me by hiding the truth.
But maybe she had protected it.
Eleanor looked at me.
“There is something else.””
I opened my eyes.
“What?””
She hesitated.
“Your mother did not die immediately after the accident.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Mark looked shocked.
“Eleanor.””
“I’m sorry.””
I stared.
“What are you saying?””
Eleanor’s eyes filled with sadness.
“She was conscious for several minutes.””
My hands went cold.
“She spoke to someone.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
Eleanor looked directly at me.
“Victor.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
Eleanor opened another file.
A recorded statement.
A police note.
“She told him she knew what he had done.””
My voice was barely a whisper.
“What did he do?””
Eleanor looked down.
“She said Victor was responsible for the accident.””
The world stopped.
Ryan grabbed my hand.
Mark stood suddenly.
“No.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“You knew?””
Mark looked horrified.
“I knew she suspected him.””
“But not that she spoke to him?””
“No.””
I looked between them.
“Wait.””
My voice trembled.
“If she blamed Victor…”
I swallowed.
“Why was he never arrested?””
Nobody answered.
Then Eleanor quietly said:
“Because the evidence disappeared.””
I stared.
“Disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“Who had access?””
Eleanor’s expression changed.
And I knew.
May you like
Before she said it.
“Someone close to your family.””
