I was stunned inside the car. The screen of my cellphone was still bright. I was still in front of the old photo that had been there for ten years. The whole house was still bright. Everything was still the same. But at the first time in my life, I didn’t know that place anymore.
When I opened the door. Daniel greeted me right away. He was holding a box of jewelry. He was smiling like before.
— You’ve come home. — I bought you a gift.
He opened the box. Inside was a precious diamond bracelet. It was definitely very expensive. If it were before. I could still hug him. I could still cry. I could still think that he loved me. But now. It’s just funny. A man who pretended to be poor. A man who always said he had no money for the company. But he could buy very expensive jewelry at any time.
Daniel looked at me. — Don’t you like it?
I forced a smile. — It’s beautiful.
He smiled. Then he hugged me.
— Just a little time.
— The company will recover soon.
— I promise I will give you the best life.
I looked at his face. And at first. It was like an estranged husband. Seven years. I never suspected him. But now. Every word he says is like a stab.
The next day. I went to the cemetery as he had given me the address. A woman in her fifties was waiting for me. She was dark. Apparently tired and had been through a lot. But her eyes were clear.
He handed me a thick folder.
— This is what you need.
I opened it. And on the first page. I saw my grandfather’s name. Followed by a DNA test. I shuddered.
— What is this? He looked at me.
— Angela hasn’t been out for a long time. — She is also your grandfather’s granddaughter.
It was as if lightning struck me.
— Impossible. — There is only one child of my grandfather.
She smiled bitterly.
— That’s what everyone thinks.
I looked up at the sky. My eyes turned red.
— Seven years have passed, and your grandfather has a secret child.
— A child hidden from everyone.
— No one knows he exists.
I looked at the folder’s contents. There was a birth certificate. Old photographs. Hospital records. All pointing to one person. Angela.
It felt like the world was spinning. If she was also my grandfather’s granddaughter. That means… She had a claim to the inheritance.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was the lawyer. The tone in his voice was tense.
— Maria, there’s a problem.
— We found out that Daniel’s company has never lost money. I stood up.
— What do you want to say?
She was silent for a few seconds. Then she said:
— The true value of her assets is over 300 million pesos.
The USB fell into my hand. But she hadn’t finished speaking yet. Her voice became more serious.
— There’s one more thing.
— This morning, Daniel filed a petition in court.
It felt like time stopped. — For what?
She took a deep breath.
— She is asking to freeze your entire inheritance of 120 million pesos.
I felt cold. — Why?
She answered.
— She submitted documents stating that Angela is the sole legal heir.
— And…
She paused for a moment.
— There’s also a new will supposedly made three months ago.
I’m completely shaken. Because my grandfather has been dead for six months. How can a person who is dead make a new will?
And at that very moment. The woman in front of me looked at me. And said the words that shook my entire being.
— In the end, you noticed it too.
— Your grandfather didn’t die of illness.
— Someone killed him.
PART 3: THE PERSON WHO SHOULD BE DEAD
It felt like time stopped after I heard what the woman said.
— She killed him.
I stood in the middle of the cemetery while the wind blew. I didn’t feel the cold. I didn’t feel the fear. Only her voice kept echoing in my mind. She killed him. A few months later, I found out he had died because of a heart complication. That’s what the doctors said. That’s what the lawyer said. That’s what everyone said. But now, there’s a strange woman who says it’s not true.
I tightly held the folder.
— Who are you?
She looked at me for a long time. Then she slowly answered.
— My name is Teresa.
— I’ve been your grandfather’s personal assistant for twenty-five years.
Suddenly, I stopped. I remembered her name. I had heard it before. When I was a child. She was always with my grandfather on trips. But she suddenly disappeared after a few years. The family never mentioned her again.
— Why are you only now coming out?
Her eyes turned pale.
— Because I’ve been hiding for twenty-five years.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
— Who are you?
I looked around, then answered.
— Daniel. — Angela. — And there’s one more person.
— One person you never thought of.
After a few seconds, a message came in.
“Where are you?” “There’s an emergency.” “I need to see you right away.”
I didn’t answer. A few seconds passed. Then she came back with a message.
“Where are you?” “There’s an emergency.” “I need to see you right away.”
I smiled coldly. Emergency? I’ve been deceived for seven years. And now I need her. I didn’t answer her. Instead, I turned my gaze to Teresa.
“Tell me everything.”
She took a deep breath. Then she played a small recorder. When she pressed the play button, I immediately recognized the voice. The voice of my grandfather. Weak. Tired. But clear.
— If anyone hears this… — It means something has happened to me.
My eyes widened. I almost put down the recorder. The voice of my grandfather continued.
— Someone is trying to change my will.
— Someone wants to take all the family’s property.
— And that person is connected to Angela.
The recording stopped. But another one immediately followed. At that moment. The conversation became clearer. And as I heard the second voice…
It was as if the world had come to an end.
Because it was Daniel’s voice.
— Don’t worry. — When everything is transferred, there will be nothing left to stop us.
I looked up at her. She was stunned.
— What? — Someone broke into your grandfather’s house last night.
My eyes widened.
— What? — They destroyed his office.
— There are missing documents.
Suddenly Teresa spoke. — The red box.
I looked at her. She was stunned.
— They are looking for the red box.
— I know that day will come.
I don’t understand. — What box?
She looked at me.
— The last thing your grandfather entrusted to me.
It seemed everything had slowed down.
— Where is it?
She didn’t answer right away. Then she slowly took out a small key from her bag. It was old. It had been hidden for a long time.
— It’s in a safety deposit box.
— And only you can open it.
My eyes widened. — Why me?
She smiled bitterly.
— Because your name is listed as the beneficiary.
Suddenly we heard a loud noise from the prenol. We looked up. There was a black SUV parked outside the cemetery. One. Two. Three. They came one after another.
I felt my blood run cold.
Teresa looked up.
— They found us.
— We need to leave.
Four dark men came out of the vehicles. They directly looked at our direction. As if they knew exactly where we were.
Teresa pulled me.
— Run!
We ran between the graves. As the footsteps quickly approached from behind. They were chasing us. And it was clear they weren’t there to talk.
Suddenly Teresa fell.
I stopped.
— Teresa! — Get out!
— Bring the key! — Don’t let them get their hands on the contents of the box!
When I turned to look back, I saw her. There was a voice from behind. A familiar voice. A voice I had never expected to hear there.
— Don’t let Maria escape!
The world seemed to stop. I slowly looked back. And when I saw who was speaking…
I shivered.
Because the person who ordered those men was not Daniel. Not Angela. But my own mother.
The woman I believed was my closest ally in life.
And by her side. Daniel stood. He smiled coldly. As if there was no reason to pretend.
Afterwards, he looked at me and clearly said:
— Maria, give the key.
— Because if you open that box…
— You’ll find out who your father really is.