Nobody breathed.

I held the phone against my ear.

“Who is this?””

The woman hesitated.

Like she was afraid someone would hear.

“My name is Laura Bennett.””

Dad’s expression changed.

He knew that name.

“How do you know my father?””

The woman went quiet.

Then she said:

“Because I was there the night your mother died.””

My fingers tightened around the phone.

Nicole looked terrified.

Dad looked confused.

“Who is she?”” he whispered.

I put the call on speaker.

Laura continued.

“Richard, you need to tell Maya the truth before someone else does.””

My father closed his eyes.

“What truth?””

A long silence followed.

Then:

“That you weren’t alone at the accident.””

My heart stopped.

Dad looked at me.

“I was alone.””

“No,” Laura said.

“You weren’t.””

Nicole suddenly stepped forward.

“Hang up.””

Everyone looked at her.

Dad’s voice turned cold.

“Why?””

Nicole didn’t answer.

“Why are you scared of this woman?””

Laura spoke again.

“Because Nicole knows exactly who I am.””

My father stared.

“Who are you?””

Laura took a breath.

“I was Emily’s best friend.””

The room changed.

A stranger from my mother’s life.

A missing piece.

A person who had been absent for six years.

“Why didn’t I know about you?”” I asked.

“Because after Emily died, Nicole made sure I disappeared.””

I looked at Nicole.

“That’s impossible.””

Laura laughed sadly.

“No, Maya. It’s exactly what happened.””

Dad looked furious.

“What did Nicole do?””

“She told me Richard blamed me for the accident.””

My father frowned.

“I never said that.””

“I know.””

Laura’s voice shook.

“She lied to both of us.””

I looked at Nicole.

“You separated everyone who knew Mom.””

Nicole’s face hardened.

“Don’t listen to her.””

Dad turned.

“You’re still trying to control the story.””

Nicole said nothing.

Laura continued.

“Emily was investigating missing money from the business. She believed someone close to the family was involved.””

Daniel nodded.

“We know that.””

“No,” Laura said.

“You don’t know everything.””

A cold feeling moved through me.

“What else?””

Laura answered:

“Emily found out the money wasn’t the only thing missing.””

Dad frowned.

“What does that mean?””

“She discovered someone had been changing legal documents.””

My heart sank.

“The trust?””

“Yes.””

Daniel looked at the papers.

“Someone had access before Nicole.””

Everyone looked at Dad.

He immediately shook his head.

“No.””

But Laura spoke again.

“Richard.””

His face changed.

“You need to tell Maya about the night before Emily died.””

I stared at him.

“The night before?””

Dad looked away.

And that was when I knew.

There was another secret.

Another piece missing.

“What happened?””

He didn’t answer.

“Dad.””

His voice was barely a whisper.

“Your mother asked me for a divorce.””

The words hurt.

Not because of the divorce.

Because he had never told me.

“She was leaving you?””

“Yes.””

“Why?””

He looked at Nicole.

“Because she discovered I had made a mistake.””

The room went silent.

I felt my heart racing.

“What mistake?””

Dad looked at me.

“I signed something.””

“What?””

“A document.””

Nicole looked suddenly nervous.

Dad continued.

“Something I thought was harmless.””

Daniel stepped closer.

“What document?””

My father swallowed.

“A temporary authorization form.””

My stomach dropped.

“For what?””

He looked at Nicole.

“Financial decisions.””

Nobody spoke.

Because suddenly everything made sense.

Nicole didn’t need to steal my identity.

She didn’t need to force control.

Someone had already given her a door.

And my father had unknowingly opened it.

Laura’s voice came through the phone.

“Maya, there is one more thing.””

I looked at the phone.

“What?””

“Your mother left a second letter.””

My breath caught.

“A second letter?””

“Yes.””

“Where?””

Laura hesitated.

“Your mother gave it to me the day before she died.””

Dad stepped closer.

“Why didn’t you give it to us?””

Laura’s voice became quiet.

“Because Emily told me not to.””

“Why?””

The answer came after a long pause.

“Because she said if Richard ever found out what was inside…”

She stopped.

“What?”” I asked.

Laura whispered:

“He would know the accident was never meant to kill Emily.””

The call ended.

And on the other side of the room…

Nicole was crying.

Not pretending.

Not manipulating.

Actually crying.

Because she knew what was in that second letter.

And whatever my mother wrote…

It was about to destroy everything.