Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Margaret sat alone in her mansion.
A cup of untouched coffee sat in front of her.
The house was silent.
But inside her mind…
Everything was falling apart.
She looked at the news playing on television.
“Authorities reopen investigation into Ava Carter’s accident…”
She turned it off.
Anger filled her face.
“You ungrateful boy.”
She whispered.
“I did everything for you.”
A sound came from behind her.
She turned.
Lena stood there.
Margaret’s eyes narrowed.
“You have courage coming back here.”
Lena didn’t move.
“I came for Ava’s things.”
Margaret laughed.
“You still think you’re the hero?”
“No.”
Lena looked at her.
“I think I should have spoken sooner.”
For a moment…
Margaret said nothing.
Then she smiled.
“You want the truth?”
Lena stayed silent.
Margaret walked toward the window.
“Everyone thinks I’m a monster.”
She looked outside.
“But nobody asks why.”
Lena frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Margaret’s expression changed.
“I sacrificed my entire life for Ethan.”
“That doesn’t justify hurting people.”
Margaret turned.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
A long silence.
Finally, Margaret spoke.
“When Ethan was young, his father left us with nothing.”
Lena listened.
“I worked. I begged. I did whatever I had to do.”
“That doesn’t explain Ava.”
Margaret’s eyes darkened.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Ava took him away from me.”
Lena shook her head.
“She loved him.”
“She changed him.”
Margaret’s voice became bitter.
“He stopped needing me.”
That was the truth.
Not money.
Not power.
Not revenge.
Something much darker.
Obsession.
“You wanted Ethan to choose you.”
Margaret smiled.
“Yes.”
Lena felt sick.
“You destroyed your own son’s happiness.”
Margaret’s face hardened.
“I protected him.”
“No.”
Lena whispered.
“You controlled him.”
Suddenly, Margaret grabbed Lena’s arm.
“You should be careful.”
Lena pulled away.
“You’re not scary anymore.”
Margaret froze.
“Excuse me?”
“Because Ethan knows.”
That sentence changed everything.
Margaret’s expression turned cold.
“You told him?”
Lena nodded.
“Yes.”
For several seconds…
Nobody moved.
Then Margaret smiled.
A frightening smile.
“Then I guess there’s no reason to hide anymore.”
Lena felt a chill.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret walked toward the desk.
She opened a drawer.
Inside was another file.
Older.
Darker.
She placed it on the table.
“You want the truth about Ava?”
Lena stared.
“What are you talking about?”
Margaret pushed the file toward her.
“Your precious Ava wasn’t the only person with secrets.”
Lena slowly opened it.
The first page made her freeze.
Because written across the top…
Was a name.
ETHAN CARTER.
And underneath…
A sentence that changed everything:
May you like
“Subject unaware of true family history.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
