Chapter 8: The Woman Nobody Remembered
The woman refused to give her name over the phone.
Not at first.
“I’m scared,” she said.
Those two words stayed with me.
Because I knew that fear.
I had lived inside it.
“What happened?”” I asked.
Her breathing became uneven.
“Julian worked in Michigan before Chicago.””
I listened.
“He had a girlfriend named Hannah.””
Another name.
Another woman.
Another hidden chapter.
“He told everyone she was unstable.””
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“He always says that.””
The woman went quiet.
“You know?””
“Yes.””
Because that was Julian’s favorite weapon.
Destroy someone’s credibility before they could tell the truth.
The woman continued.
“Hannah disappeared after an argument.””
My heart raced.
“Disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“She was found unconscious near her apartment.””
I stopped walking.
My father noticed.
“Evelyn?””
I raised one hand.
The woman continued.
“She survived.””
I closed my eyes.
“She survived?””
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
“I don’t know.””
The disappointment hit hard.
“But I know someone who does.””
The call ended.
For hours, we tried to find Hannah.
But there was no easy answer.
No social media.
No current address.
No public record.
It was like she had vanished.
Just like Julian wanted.
That evening, Rachel arrived with new information.
“We found something.””
She placed a file on the table.
“Julian has been using a private investigator.””
My stomach dropped.
“For what?””
Rachel looked at me.
“You.””
The room went silent.
“When?””
“For months.””
I looked at my father.
Before the kitchen.
Before the hospital.
Before I ever admitted the truth.
Julian had already been preparing.
“What was he looking for?””
Rachel opened the file.
“Your bank account.””
My blood turned cold.
“The money I saved?””
“Yes.””
“He knew?””
“He suspected.””
Everything made sense.
The argument wasn’t about money.
It wasn’t about a secret account.
It was about control.
He realized I was preparing to leave.
And he panicked.
My father stood.
“He attacked her because she was escaping.””
Rachel nodded.
“That’s what the evidence suggests.””
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
I walked into Ethan’s room.
He was holding his dinosaur.
The same one from that night.
I sat beside him.
He opened his eyes.
“Mommy?””
“I’m here.””
“Is Daddy coming back?””
The question broke me.
Children shouldn’t have to ask questions like that.
I brushed his hair back.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Because he’s mad?””
I swallowed.
“No.””
“Because he hurt us?””
I froze.
He knew.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
I pulled him close.
“You did the right thing calling Grandpa.””
His eyes filled.
“I thought Daddy would be mad.””
“I know.””
“I was scared.””
I held him tighter.
“I know.””
A knock came at the door.
My father stood there.
His face was serious.
“Evelyn.””
I immediately knew.
Something had happened.
“What?””
He held out his phone.
A news alert.
Julian had released a statement.
Claiming he was the victim.
Claiming I was unstable.
Claiming I had attacked him.
My hands shook.
The old Julian was back.
The public Julian.
The charming one.
The one who smiled while destroying people.
But underneath the article was another update.
A woman had contacted the police.
A woman with evidence.
A woman who had finally decided to speak.
May you like
The name appeared on the screen.
*Hannah Brooks.*
