Chapter 21: The Woman Who Tried to Erase Me
The next few days moved faster than I could process.
Every answer created three more questions.
Every secret revealed another betrayal.
But one thing became clear.
Patricia and Thomas were running out of time.
They knew we were close.
And desperate people made mistakes.
The first mistake came from Patricia.
She contacted me directly.
Not through my father.
Not through Felicity.
Me.
The message was simple.
*We need to meet. Alone.*
I almost ignored it.
But Adrian convinced me otherwise.
“She’s scared.””
“Good.””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“You think I should meet her?””
“I think she’s about to reveal something.””
He was right.
People didn't request private meetings unless they had something to gain.
We met in a quiet park.
Patricia looked different.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
For the first time, she wasn't in control.
“You look just like your mother.””
I didn't respond.
“You hate me.””
“Yes.””
She nodded.
“I expected that.””
“Do you deserve it?””
She looked away.
“I made mistakes.””
I almost laughed.
“Mistakes?””
“You think everything was planned.””
“Wasn’t it?””
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
“You destroyed my mother’s life.””
Her expression tightened.
“I loved your father.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You loved what he had.””
Her eyes flashed.
“You don't know what it was like.””
“You’re right.””
I stepped closer.
“I only know what you did.””
She looked at me.
Then whispered:
“Your mother wasn't innocent either.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew about your father's financial problems.””
“I know.””
“She knew about Thomas.””
“Yes.””
“She hid things too.””
I stared.
“Because she was protecting herself?””
Patricia shook her head.
“No.””
Her voice became quieter.
“Because she was protecting you.””
The answer surprised me.
Even now, Patricia couldn't deny my mother’s love.
“What are you saying?””
She looked around.
Then whispered:
“Your mother discovered the truth about Thomas.””
I waited.
“She discovered that he wasn't trying to steal your father’s company.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then what?””
Patricia looked directly at me.
“He was trying to steal something much bigger.””
“What?””
She said one word.
And everything changed.
“Your inheritance.””
I frowned.
“What inheritance?””
She looked shocked.
“You don't know?””
I shook my head.
“What are you talking about?””
For the first time, Patricia looked afraid for me.
Not of me.
For me.
“Jenna…”
She took a breath.
“Your mother left you something.””
I stared.
“She never told you.””
“What?””
Patricia whispered:
“Your mother was worth far more than anyone knew.””
The world went silent.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Patricia looked at me.
“Because before she became a librarian…”
She paused.
“She was the heir to a family fortune.””
I couldn't move.
Twenty years of believing my mother was ordinary.
Twenty years of believing our family struggled because we had nothing.
And now I was learning the truth.
My mother had hidden an entire life from me.
Patricia stepped closer.
“And Thomas knew.””
I stared at her.
“Why are you telling me this?””
Her expression changed.
Because even after everything…
she still wanted something.
“Because if Thomas finds it first…”
She stopped.
“What?””
Patricia looked at me.
“He won’t just destroy your family.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“He’ll destroy you.””
And suddenly, the fight was no longer about the past.
May you like
It was about what my mother had left behind.
And who would get to control it.
