Chapter 4: The Secret About My Mother
My father's expression changed.
Not angry.
Confused.
Hurt.
“Maya,” he said softly, “what is she talking about?””
I looked at the phone.
Nicole was silent.
Waiting.
She wanted me to panic.
She wanted me to confess without explaining.
But I was tired.
Tired of protecting everyone except myself.
“My mom left because of Nicole.””
Dad froze.
“What?””
I swallowed.
“When you married her, Mom was still trying to be part of my life.””
Nicole immediately interrupted through the phone.
“That is a lie.””
Dad raised his hand.
“Let her finish.””
I breathed in.
“Mom told me she was afraid of Nicole.””
The room became completely quiet.
“She said Nicole was trying to push her away from you.””
Dad sat down slowly.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Nicole told me if I caused problems, you would lose everything.””
Dad closed his eyes.
I saw the pain on his face.
“I thought you chose her.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
Dad looked at me.
“I never chose anyone over you.””
“But it felt like it.””
That hurt him.
I could see it.
But it was the truth.
For years, I had watched my father come home exhausted and trust the woman who smiled perfectly in front of him.
The woman who changed the moment the door closed.
The next morning, Dad took me to his office.
Not because he wanted to leave me alone.
Because he wanted me somewhere safe.
His coworker brought me hot chocolate.
A simple thing.
A normal thing.
I almost cried.
Because I realized how long it had been since someone had offered me something without making me earn it.
That afternoon, Dad received another message.
This time from Nicole.
He read it.
Then his face went pale.
“What is it?””
He handed me the phone.
It was a picture.
A document.
A legal document.
My name was on it.
I stared at the paper.
“What is this?””
Dad's voice was barely audible.
“It’s custody paperwork.””
I looked closer.
The date was from years ago.
Before Nicole married him.
Before everything changed.
At the bottom was a signature.
My mother's signature.
But next to it was another name.
A witness.
A person who claimed to have seen my mother agree to something.
Dad whispered:
“I know that signature.””
I looked at him.
“Whose is it?””
He stared at the page.
Then said a name I never expected.
“Your grandmother.””
My heart dropped.
My grandmother had been gone for years.
And according to this document, she had helped Nicole take control of my life.
But there was one problem.
My grandmother had died before the document was signed.
Dad turned the page over.
Something was written on the back.
A note.
Three sentences.
And the last one made his face lose all color.
May you like
Because it said:
“Marcus, if you are reading this, Nicole has already started lying to you.””
