Chapter 8: The Woman He Was Protecting
I drove to my parents' house through a cold rain.
My father's warning replayed in my head.
Your mother.
By the time I arrived, every light in the house was on.
My father opened the door before I knocked.
“Where's Mom?””
“In the study.””
“Is she okay?””
“She won't talk to me.””
I stepped inside.
My mother was sitting beside the fireplace.
She looked older than she had that morning.
“Mom?””
She looked at me.
“Come here.””
I sat beside her.
My father remained by the door.
I held up Ethan's note.
“He said the person behind everything is someone in our family.””
My mother's eyes moved to the paper.
“Ethan wrote that?””
“Yes.””
“Why would you believe him?””
“Because he warned me about you.””
Her face changed.
“About me?””
“He told me not to trust Dad.””
My father looked at her.
My mother closed her eyes.
“Ethan was trying to create doubt.””
“Maybe.””
I placed the note on the table.
“But why would he mention you?””
She didn't answer.
“Mom.””
Still nothing.
“Did you know about the transfer agreement?””
She looked at my father.
He said quietly, “Tell her.””
My mother stood.
She walked toward the window.
“I knew there was a plan.””
My heart sank.
“What plan?””
“To take control of Whitmore.””
“Through Ethan?””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“And you knew?””
“I knew someone was trying.””
“That isn't an answer.””
She turned.
“I knew.””
My voice cracked.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was investigating.””
“You could have told me.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She looked at my father.
“Of what we'd discover.””
I stood.
“What did you discover?””
My mother began to cry.
“Twenty years ago, your father helped expose Victor Caldwell.””
“I know.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“You know the official story.””
“What don't I know?””
My father stepped forward.
“Your mother had a connection to Victor.””
I looked at her.
“What connection?””
She whispered:
“He was my brother.””
I stared.
The rain struck the windows.
I couldn't move.
“Victor Caldwell is your uncle,” my mother said.
I looked at my father.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“All these years?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
My father said, “Because he tried to destroy us.””
My mother wiped her eyes.
“Victor was my younger brother.””
She sat down again.
“He was brilliant. Charming. Reckless. He became obsessed with building Caldwell Materials into the largest construction supplier in the state.””
“And then?””
“He started moving money.””
“To shell companies.””
“Yes.””
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
She swallowed.
“Your father found proof.””
I looked at my father.
“And Mom?””
“She begged me not to expose him.””
My father’s voice was low.
“She thought Victor could be saved.””
My mother looked at me.
“I was wrong.””
“What happened?””
“Victor blamed your father for everything.””
“And Ethan?””
“He grew up believing your father destroyed his family.””
I thought of Vanessa.
Of her hatred.
Of Ethan's anger.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Almost.
“But why would Ethan say you were involved?””
My mother looked down.
“Because I was.””
The words landed like a slap.
“What did you do?””
“I gave Victor information.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Before the investigation?””
“Yes.””
“What information?””
“Your father's business plans.””
I stared at her.
“You betrayed Dad?””
“I thought I was helping my brother.””
My father said nothing.
“I didn't know what he would do with it.””
“But he used it.””
“Yes.””
My mother covered her face.
“He nearly destroyed your father.””
I looked at the family photographs around the room.
My entire childhood was suddenly full of secrets.
“You knew Victor was trying to take Whitmore.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Ethan was involved.””
“I suspected.””
“And you let me marry him?””
“I tried to stop it.””
“When?””
“After I found the first evidence.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't have proof.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't explain everything.””
She looked at me.
“What?””
“The note.””
I pointed to it.
“Why would Ethan say the person behind everything is someone in my family?””
My mother looked frightened.
“Because there is someone else.””
My father stiffened.
“Who?””
She looked at him.
“Your sister.””
I frowned.
“My aunt?””
My father went silent.
“Dad?””
He sat down.
“My sister, Eleanor, worked with Victor.””
“When?””
“Before the investigation.””
“Does she still?””
“We don't know.””
My mother whispered, “She disappeared after Victor's company collapsed.””
I felt dizzy.
“How many secrets are there?””
My father looked at me.
“Too many.””
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice said:
“Your mother is telling you only half the story.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“You need to leave the house.””
“Why?””
“Because Victor Caldwell isn't the person you should be afraid of.””
“Who are you?””
The line went dead.
I looked at my parents.
Then every light in the house went out.
My mother screamed.
Something crashed downstairs.
My father grabbed my arm.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
He moved toward the door.
“Dad—”
A second crash.
Then footsteps.
Someone was inside.
My father opened the study door.
The hallway was dark.
A figure moved at the far end.
My father shouted:
“Who are you?””
No answer.
The figure ran.
My father chased him.
I followed.
We reached the front hall just as the back door slammed.
My father opened it.
Rain poured into the house.
Nobody was there.
Then I saw something on the floor.
A black leather folder.
I picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside Victor Caldwell twenty-one years earlier.
But that wasn't what made my blood freeze.
There was another person in the photograph.
A younger man.
I recognized him immediately.
Ethan.
He had been a child.
And on the back of the photograph, someone had written:
*He knew about the plan before he ever met Laurel.*
I looked at my father.
“Dad…”
He stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then whispered:
“We need to find Ethan before his attorney does.””
