Chapter 6: The Debt of the Past
My mother didn’t deny the message.
That scared me more than anything.
I watched her face carefully.
“Who sent that?””
She didn’t answer.
“Mom.””
Her eyes closed.
“Someone who knows what happened.””
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Vanessa.””
I stood up.
“So Vanessa knows you.””
“Yes.””
“And she thinks you ruined her family?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“You disappeared because of this?””
My mother looked away.
“I disappeared because people were getting hurt.””
“People?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
That was becoming a pattern.
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the city continued moving.
Cars passed.
People laughed.
Nobody knew that my entire life had just been rewritten.
“Tell me everything.””
My mother remained silent for a long moment.
Then she began.
“Your father, James Bennett, and William Reed started a company together.””
“The restaurant?””
“No. Before that.””
She placed another document on the table.
“A food distribution company.””
I looked at the papers.
“My father owned this?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
My mother’s expression changed.
“Your father discovered William was stealing money.””
I frowned.
“Marcus said my father betrayed his family.””
“Because William told him that.””
I stared at her.
“Are you saying Marcus has been manipulated?””
“Yes.””
“And Vanessa?””
“She believes a different version of the story.””
I looked at the agreement again.
“What does this have to do with Bennett House?””
My mother took a breath.
“When your father died, the company collapsed. The assets were divided.””
“And?””
“And one restaurant location was transferred to your name.””
I understood.
“My father left it to me.””
“Yes.””
“Vanessa thinks it was stolen.””
“Yes.””
I sat down.
“So she spent years planning revenge.””
“She believes she is taking back what belongs to her family.””
I laughed quietly.
“By destroying innocent people?””
My mother looked ashamed.
“She became like her father.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Then she said:
“But Ethan, there is something you don’t know.””
“What?””
“The documents Vanessa has are incomplete.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means someone gave her only half the truth.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
My mother hesitated.
Then:
“Marcus.””
My stomach tightened.
“Marcus gave Vanessa false information?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus needed her anger.””
“Why?””
My mother looked directly at me.
“Because he wanted Bennett House.””
The betrayal felt deeper this time.
Marcus wasn’t just angry.
He was using everyone.
My mother.
Vanessa.
Richard.
Me.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Daniel?””
“Ethan, we have a problem.””
“What happened?””
“Someone leaked private company documents.””
My expression hardened.
“What documents?””
“The expansion plans.””
I looked at my mother.
The timing was too perfect.
“Who has access?””
“Only senior management.””
“Send me the list.””
A minute later, my phone received the names.
I scanned them.
Then stopped.
One name.
Marcus Reed.
I closed my eyes.
“I knew it.””
“What?”” Daniel asked.
“Nothing. I’ll handle it.””
After hanging up, I looked at my mother.
“I need to go.””
She stood.
“Ethan.””
I turned.
“I’m sorry.””
I wanted to stay angry.
I wanted to tell her that apologies couldn’t fix twelve years.
But when I saw her face, I couldn’t.
“Why didn’t you come back?””
Her eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She whispered:
“Of the person who killed your father.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
My mother’s voice shook.
“Your father’s death was not an accident.””
I stared at her.
“What are you saying?””
She looked toward the door.
“Someone wanted him gone.””
“Who?””
Before she could answer, the lights went out.
The apartment became completely dark.
Then we heard footsteps outside.
Slow.
Heavy.
Coming closer.
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Ethan…”
“What?””
May you like
She whispered:
“He found us.””
