Chapter 8: The Woman Wearing My Mother’s Face
The phone slipped from my hand.
It didn’t hit the floor.
Daniel caught it before it fell.
But I barely noticed.
Because I was staring at the woman standing across the room.
The woman who had hugged me.
The woman who had comforted me.
The woman who had cooked dinner in this house.
The woman who had held my hand at my father’s funeral.
My mother.
Or someone who looked exactly like her.
Nobody spoke.
Not Daniel.
Not Brooke.
Not Chad.
Not even the woman herself.
And that terrified me more than anything.
Because if she was innocent, she would have reacted.
She would have screamed.
She would have demanded answers.
She would have called my father a liar.
Instead, she just stood there.
Quiet.
Almost defeated.
“Mom?””
The word came out automatically.
Her face softened.
“Ethan…”
But my body moved before my mind could catch up.
I stepped backward.
“No.””
Her eyes filled.
“Please.””
“Don’t.””
My voice shook.
“Don’t call me that.””
The pain on her face looked real.
And that made everything worse.
Because I didn’t know what was real anymore.
Daniel looked between us.
“Ethan…”
I raised my hand.
“No.””
I needed answers.
Not comfort.
Not explanations.
Answers.
I looked at the woman who had raised me.
“Who are you?””
Her lips parted.
But no words came.
That silence was the final piece of proof.
“You’re not my mother.””
She closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“I am.””
The answer shocked me.
“You just heard what he said.””
“I heard.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at the phone in Daniel’s hand.
“Your father thinks he knows everything.””
The room became still.
“What does that mean?””
She took a slow breath.
“It means Richard made another mistake.””
The use of my father’s name felt strange.
Cold.
Like she wasn’t talking about someone she loved.
She was talking about an opponent.
“You’re saying my father is wrong?””
“Yes.””
“About what?””
She looked directly at me.
“About me.””
Nobody moved as she walked toward the table.
She didn’t look like a criminal.
She didn’t look like someone who had spent years planning my destruction.
She looked exhausted.
Like someone who had carried a secret for too long.
“My name is Eleanor Carter.””
I stared.
“That’s my mother’s name.””
“Yes.””
“Then what did my father mean?””
She looked down.
“Your father believed your mother died the night of the accident.””
A chill went through me.
“Because she did.””
“No.””
Her voice was quiet.
“She almost did.””
The room froze.
She continued.
“Five years ago, after your accident, Richard disappeared because he believed someone inside the company was trying to destroy our family.””
“That part I know.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“You know the story everyone was given.””
I said nothing.
“The truth is different.””
She sat down.
“Your father didn’t disappear first.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“What?””
“I did.””
The room went silent.
“I disappeared because I found out something about the person who caused the accident.””
“Who?””
She looked at Brooke.
Then at Chad.
Then back at me.
“The person who arranged everything.””
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Your uncle.””
The name hit me harder than I expected.
My father’s younger brother.
Victor Carter.
A man I hadn’t seen in years.
A man who left the family business after a disagreement with my father.
A man everyone described as bitter.
But not dangerous.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
My mother reached into her bag and pulled out a photograph.
She placed it on the table.
It showed Victor.
Standing beside someone else.
Someone I recognized.
Chad.
My stomach tightened.
“When was this taken?””
“Six years ago.””
Before the accident.
Before everything.
Daniel picked up the photograph.
“This proves nothing.””
“No.””
My mother looked at him.
“But this does.””
She pulled out another document.
A financial transfer.
A company account.
A payment.
The recipient name was hidden.
But the sender was clear.
Victor Carter.
The amount was enormous.
“Where did you get this?””
My mother looked at me.
“Your father found it.””
“Then why didn’t he expose him?””
“Because Victor wasn’t acting alone.””
A horrible thought entered my mind.
“Who else?””
She looked at me.
“The person who convinced Victor he could win.””
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she looked toward Brooke.
Brooke’s face changed.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
My mother’s expression was cold.
“You know.””
Brooke shook her head.
“No, I don’t.””
“You do.””
“I don’t!””
The desperation in Brooke’s voice was real.
My eyes moved between them.
“What is happening?””
Brooke looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
My mother stood.
“Then tell him about the letter.””
Brooke froze.
“What letter?””
I looked at Brooke.
The same question.
“What letter?””
She looked trapped.
“I…”
“Brooke.””
Her eyes filled.
“I found a letter from Victor.””
The room went silent.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I never read it.””
“Never?””
She shook her head.
“I was scared.””
“Scared of what?””
She looked at me.
“That it would prove your father was right about everyone.””
I stared.
“Where is it?””
She reached into her bag.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I kept it.””
She handed it to me.
My hands felt heavy as I opened it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
But the words were clear.
*Brooke,*
*If you want Ethan alive, you will do exactly what I tell you.*
My heart stopped.
I continued.
*He cannot know the truth. Not yet.*
*If Richard finds out you failed, he will take Ethan away from everyone who can protect him.*
I looked up.
Brooke was crying silently.
“What did he mean?””
She wiped her face.
“I don’t know.””
I kept reading.
The final sentence made my blood run cold.
*The boy must believe everyone abandoned him. Only then will he become strong enough to survive what comes next.*
I lowered the paper.
“What comes next?””
Nobody answered.
Then the lights went out.
Again.
But this time, everyone knew it wasn’t an accident.
Daniel immediately reached for his phone.
“No signal.””
Chad moved toward the door.
“Everyone stay back.””
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Calm.
Someone wasn’t rushing.
They wanted us to hear them coming.
The door handle turned.
Everyone froze.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
I knew him instantly.
Victor Carter.
My uncle.
The man who supposedly disappeared from our lives years ago.
He looked around the room.
Then smiled.
“Ethan.””
Nobody moved.
He looked at my mother.
“Eleanor.””
Then at Brooke.
“Still protecting him?””
Brooke stepped back.
“You.””
Victor smiled.
“After all these years.””
I stared at him.
“You caused the accident.””
He laughed softly.
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
“I caused the circumstances.””
“What does that mean?””
He walked closer.
“It means your father was always too arrogant.””
He looked around the room.
“He thought he could control everyone.””
His eyes landed on me.
“But he forgot one thing.””
“What?””
Victor smiled.
“You were never the prize.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then what was?””
Victor looked at my mother.
Then at the documents.
Then back at me.
“Your inheritance.””
I frowned.
“My company?””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Something much bigger.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Victor smiled.
“The reason your father faked his death.””
My heart raced.
“Tell me.””
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a small black drive.
And placed it on the table.
“Everything you need to know is on this.””
I didn’t move.
“Why give it to me?””
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“Because your father lied to you too.””
A pause.
“And when you see what’s inside…”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“You’ll understand why he never wanted you to find out who your real enemy was.””
Before I could answer, Victor’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Then smiled.
“He’s calling.””
My chest tightened.
“Who?””
Victor turned the phone around.
The name on the screen appeared.
Richard Carter.
My father.
Alive.
Calling my uncle.
Victor answered.
Put it on speaker.
And my father’s voice filled the room.
“Victor.””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“You were never supposed to meet Ethan.””
