Chapter 4: The Secret Behind My Mother’s Choice
The diner was almost empty when I arrived.
Thomas had chosen a small booth in the corner.
He was older than I expected.
Maybe early sixties.
Gray hair.
A worn jacket.
The kind of person who looked like he had spent his life carrying things he never talked about.
When he saw me walk in, he stood.
“Jason?””
I nodded.
“You’re Thomas?””
“Yes.””
I didn’t sit down immediately.
“I need answers.””
Thomas nodded.
“You deserve them.””
I slid into the booth.
“Start talking.””
He looked down at his coffee.
“Your mother and I worked together years ago.””
I frowned.
“Worked together?””
“Yes.””
“Doing what?””
He took a breath.
“Real estate.””
That surprised me.
My mother had always worked small jobs.
Office assistant.
Retail.
Cleaning houses.
Nothing connected to real estate.
“I don’t understand.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Your mother inherited something after your grandfather passed away.””
I stared at him.
“My grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“My grandfather died when I was little.””
“I know.””
“Then why don’t I know anything about this?””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“Because Derek made sure you didn’t.””
The anger came back instantly.
“What does Derek have to do with my grandfather?””
Thomas reached into his briefcase.
Then stopped.
“I’m not going to show you anything yet.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I need to know if you’re ready.””
I almost stood up.
“I came here because you said you knew why my mother kicked me out.””
“I do.””
“Then tell me.””
Thomas looked me in the eyes.
“Derek didn’t enter your mother’s life by accident.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“It means he knew about her finances before he knew about her.””
The words hit hard.
I sat back.
“No.””
Thomas didn’t look away.
“Jason, your mother is a good person. She’s also someone who spent years putting everyone else first.””
I listened carefully.
“And people like that are easier to manipulate.””
I thought about my mother defending Derek.
Her changing.
Her suddenly wanting me gone.
“How long has he known about this?””
Thomas sighed.
“Almost from the beginning.””
I looked at the table.
“So he’s using her?””
“I believe he’s influencing her decisions.””
“Why?””
Thomas was quiet.
Then he said:
“Because your mother owns something valuable.””
My heart started racing.
“What?””
Before he answered, my phone buzzed.
I looked down.
A message from my mother.
For a moment, I felt hopeful.
Maybe she wanted to apologize.
Maybe she wanted me to come home.
I opened it.
The message was short.
“Jason, please stop contacting people and making accusations. Derek told me everything. If you continue causing problems, you cannot come back.””
I stared at the screen.
My hands went cold.
She believed him.
Completely.
Thomas watched my face.
“She sent that, didn’t she?””
I looked up.
“How did you know?””
“Because that’s exactly what Derek would do.””
I put my phone down.
“What am I supposed to do now?””
Thomas leaned back.
“Find out what he’s hiding.””
“How?””
He looked toward the window.
Then back at me.
“By going back to that house.””
I shook my head.
“She doesn’t want me there.””
“Not to stay.””
Thomas lowered his voice.
“To look.””
I frowned.
“What am I looking for?””
Thomas hesitated.
Then he said:
“The one thing Derek has been trying to control since the day he met your mother.””
“What?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your grandfather’s documents.””
I felt a chill.
“My grandfather’s documents?””
“Yes.””
I remembered something suddenly.
Something from years ago.
A locked drawer in my mother’s bedroom.
A drawer she never let me open.
When I was younger, I once asked what was inside.
She smiled and said:
“Something important.””
I had forgotten about it.
Until now.
Thomas reached into his pocket and placed a small key on the table.
I stared at it.
“What is that?””
His expression turned serious.
“Something Derek thought was lost forever.””
I didn’t touch it.
“Where did you get this?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your grandfather gave it to me before he died.””
My breath caught.
“Why?””
Thomas pushed the key closer.
“Because he knew one day someone would need to protect your mother.””
I looked at the key.
Then at Thomas.
And suddenly, the question wasn’t why my mother chose Derek over me.
The question was much bigger.
What had Derek done to make sure she had no choice?
Because when I looked at that key, I realized something terrifying.
My mother hadn’t just lost her son.
May you like
She might have been losing herself.
And I was about to discover why.
