Chapter 8 - The Secret Warren Never Told Me
My father confessed at dawn.
We sat in the library.
Just the two of us.
“I didn't kill your mother,” he said.
“I know.”
“But I did lie.”
I looked at him.
“About what?”
“The night she died.”
He placed an old file on the desk.
“My mother—your grandmother—had arranged a private investigation into Bellamy Holdings.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because she believed someone inside the company was stealing billions.”
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“But you said Victor didn't order the murder.”
“I said he didn't act alone.”
I opened the file.
Names.
Payments.
Offshore accounts.
And one name repeated over and over.
Evelyn Bellamy.
My grandmother.
I stared.
“What does she have to do with this?”
My father looked away.
“She knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That your mother was planning to expose Victor.”
“And?”
“She stopped her.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
My father shook his head.
“Your grandmother believed protecting the family mattered more than protecting the truth.”
I stood.
“She let Mom die?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“She ordered her removed from the company.”
I didn't understand.
“Removed?”
“She sent her away.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother was going to take the evidence to the government.”
I stared at him.
“And Victor?”
“He intercepted her.”
My father's voice broke.
“The crash wasn't supposed to happen.”
I sat down.
“What was supposed to happen?”
“He was supposed to scare her.”
“But he killed her.”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
The entire story of my childhood had been built on lies.
Then I remembered something.
“The witness statement.”
My father looked at me.
“The missing page.”
He went still.
“What about it?”
“I remember.”
I whispered:
“I saw someone else.”
“Who?”
I closed my eyes.
A face.
A woman.
Standing beside Victor.
Long dark hair.
A silver bracelet.
I opened my eyes.
“Grandmother.”
My father didn't move.
I stood.
“She was there.”
“No.”
“I remember.”
“Audrey, trauma can—”
“She was there!”
My voice echoed through the library.
My father stared at me.
Then the door opened.
Nolan stood there.
His face was pale.
“Sir.”
My father turned.
“What?”
“We found the woman.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
Nolan looked at me.
“Connecticut.”
“Who is she?”
He swallowed.
“Evelyn Bellamy.”
I stared.
“My grandmother is alive?”
Nolan nodded.
“She has been living under another name for nineteen years.”
My father closed his eyes.
“Why?”
Nolan answered:
“Because she was afraid you would find out.”
I looked at my father.
“Take me to her.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“She is dangerous.”
“So was Victor.”
“Audrey—”
I stepped closer.
“I've spent my entire life believing my mother died in an accident.”
I picked up my coat.
“I'm done letting other people decide which truths I'm allowed to know.”
My father looked at me.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
May you like
Then he nodded.
“Let's go.”
