Chapter 6 - The Mother’s Secret
For ten years, I believed my mother was gone.
A car accident.
A closed casket.
A funeral filled with people telling me how strong I was.
I was twenty-three years old when I buried her.
Or at least…
That was what I was told.
Now my grandfather was standing in front of me, telling me my mother had created the most important protection in the Kingsley empire.
The Bluebird file.
The same file that could destroy Grant.
The same file that could protect Ellie.
My daughter moved slightly in my arms.
Still sleeping.
Still innocent.
Unaware that every adult in the room was fighting over her future.
“Explain.”
My voice came out colder than I expected.
Charles Kingsley looked at me.
“Your mother knew someone would eventually try to use Ellie.”
“Who?”
He glanced at Grant.
“Men like him.”
Grant’s face tightened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Charles laughed softly.
“I watched you study my family for years.”
The room went silent.
I turned toward Grant.
“You knew who I was before we met.”
He didn’t answer.
That silence was all the proof I needed.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Mara, you’re misunderstanding.”
I looked at her.
“Am I?”
She forced a smile.
“Grant loved you.”
The words almost made me laugh.
“Then why did he prepare custody documents before I discovered the affair?”
Her face changed.
Because she knew.
I knew.
Everyone knew.
Grant looked at me.
“You went through my files?”
“No.”
I held up my phone.
“The Bluebird system did.”
His expression changed.
Charles watched me carefully.
“You finally understand the power your mother left you.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
I looked at Ellie.
“I understand why she was afraid.”
Charles became quiet.
That reaction told me something.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
He looked away.
“Mara…”
“No.”
My voice sharpened.
“You brought me here. You opened this door. Now tell me everything.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Charles said:
“Your mother didn’t die in an accident.”
The world stopped.
“What?”
Grant looked shocked.
Vanessa stepped back.
Charles continued.
“She was investigating the people who wanted Bluebird.”
My hands started shaking.
“Who?”
His eyes moved toward the old family portraits on the wall.
“Someone inside Kingsley.”
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?”
Charles looked at me.
“The person who signed your mother’s death certificate.”
Silence.
Because the answer was impossible.
The person who had signed it…
Was someone who was still alive.
Someone I trusted.
Someone close.
Then the mansion doors opened.
A woman walked inside.
May you like
And I stopped breathing.
Because she looked exactly like my mother.
