Chapter 6: The Man Who Entered My Mother’s Life
Derek and I stood in my mother’s bedroom staring at each other.
The folder was between us.
A thin piece of paper separating the truth from the lies.
“Give it to me, Jason.””
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm people use when they’re trying not to panic.
I held the folder tighter.
“No.””
His jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.””
“Then tell me.””
He looked away.
That was the first time I saw him lose control.
Not completely.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
“You think you know everything because some stranger gave you a story?””
I frowned.
“You know Thomas?””
His silence answered.
“How do you know his name?””
Derek immediately looked back at me.
“I never said his name.””
My stomach dropped.
He realized his mistake too late.
“You just did.””
The room became silent.
Derek looked toward the hallway.
Like he was checking if my mother was nearby.
That made me angry.
Not because he was hiding.
Because he had been doing it while standing inside my family’s home.
“You knew this whole time.””
He sighed.
“Jason…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You knew exactly who called me.””
Derek rubbed his face.
“This is complicated.””
“Then explain.””
Before he could answer, we heard footsteps.
My mother.
She appeared in the doorway.
“What’s going on?””
Her eyes moved from me.
To Derek.
To the folder.
Her face changed.
“Jason.””
I watched her carefully.
Not because I expected her to be angry.
Because I wanted to know if she was surprised.
And she was.
“Where did you get that?””
I swallowed.
“So you know what it is?””
She didn’t answer.
That hurt.
Again.
“Mom.””
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“Jason, please put it down.””
I laughed softly.
“Why?””
She looked at Derek.
Then back at me.
“Because you don’t understand.””
Those words again.
Everyone kept telling me I didn’t understand.
But nobody wanted to explain.
“I’m tired of hearing that.””
My voice cracked.
“I’m tired of everyone deciding things for me.””
My mother stepped closer.
“Jason, I was trying to protect you.””
I stared at her.
“Protect me?””
I held up the folder.
“You protected me by letting him throw me out?””
Derek interrupted.
“Watch your tone.””
I turned toward him.
“No.””
My voice became stronger.
“I’m done watching my tone while you destroy my family.””
My mother looked shocked.
But she didn’t defend him.
Not this time.
Derek noticed.
His expression changed.
“Your son is being manipulated.””
I looked at him.
“By who?””
He didn’t answer.
Exactly.
By morning, I had made a decision.
I wasn’t leaving.
Not because I wanted to fight with my mother.
Because I needed the truth.
I opened the folder.
The first document was an agreement involving my grandfather’s property.
The second was a financial record.
The third…
Was a letter.
My grandfather’s handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
My mother had kept old birthday cards from him.
I knew that writing.
I unfolded the letter.
“Dear Emily,”
My mother covered her mouth.
She knew.
I continued reading.
“If you are reading this, it means someone has tried to convince you that you cannot trust your own family.””
My eyes moved toward Derek.
He looked uncomfortable.
The letter continued.
“Do not allow anyone to make decisions for you because they promise comfort. People who truly love you do not need to isolate you from those who care about you.””
My mother started crying.
Derek stepped forward.
“That letter is old and irrelevant.””
I looked at him.
“Why are you afraid of a dead man’s words?””
He didn’t answer.
I kept reading.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
And my entire body went cold.
“Emily, if Derek Whitmore ever returns to your life, remember this: he was not honest about why he disappeared the first time.””
I looked up.
My mother’s face was pale.
“Derek disappeared?””
She looked at him.
“Jason…”
But I couldn’t stop.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
The old photograph.
The hidden documents.
The way Derek knew exactly how to control the situation.
He wasn’t new.
He had history.
And my mother knew more than she had ever admitted.
I turned toward Derek.
“How long have you known my mother?””
He didn’t answer.
My voice became louder.
“How long?””
Finally, he spoke.
And the answer changed everything.
“Twenty-two years.””
I stared at him.
My mother covered her face.
Because she knew what I was about to ask.
And when I asked the next question…
May you like
Nobody in that room was ready for the answer.
“Then why did you pretend you just met her six months ago?””
