Chapter 3: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Andre didn't sleep.
Not even for an hour.
The photograph stayed on his desk all night.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Nia's face.
The woman he had buried.
The woman who was supposed to have left this world with no secrets.
By sunrise, he had made one decision.
He needed answers.
Not explanations.
Not excuses.
Answers.
At seven thirty, Tanya walked into the kitchen wearing a perfectly arranged expression.
Like the previous night had never happened.
Like Ben hadn't cried.
Like she hadn't watched her husband discover a secret involving his dead wife.
"Are we really doing this today?"" she asked.
Andre stood by the counter.
"Where is Ben's grandmother?""
Tanya stopped.
Only for a second.
But he saw it.
"You called her.""
"Yes.""
"And what did she say?""
Andre looked at her.
"She said you threatened her.""
Tanya laughed.
A small, nervous laugh.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Is it?""
"Yes.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
She poured coffee into a mug.
"You don't want to know.""
Andre stared.
"That isn't an answer.""
Tanya turned.
"Fine.""
She set the coffee down.
"Nia was unstable.""
Andre felt anger rise.
"Careful.""
"It's true.""
"You are talking about the mother of my child.""
"And I am talking about someone who lied to you.""
Andre walked closer.
"What lie?""
Tanya looked toward the stairs.
"Not here.""
"Why? Afraid Ben will hear?""
Her expression hardened.
"Andre.""
"No.""
He pointed toward the stairs.
"He spent seven years believing his mother died without ever knowing she had people fighting to reach him.""
Tanya looked away.
That was the moment Andre knew.
She wasn't innocent.
Maybe he didn't know the whole story.
But he knew enough.
She had hidden something.
A sound came from behind him.
Ben.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Why did you lie to me?""
Tanya froze.
Ben walked into the kitchen.
His eyes were filled with pain.
"I asked you last year if Grandma Lena hated me.""
Tanya said nothing.
"You said she moved away.""
Silence.
"You said she didn't care.""
Ben's voice cracked.
"Was that a lie too?""
Tanya looked uncomfortable.
"Benjamin, adults make complicated choices.""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"You made choices for me.""
Andre stepped beside him.
Tanya sighed.
"I was protecting you.""
Ben laughed sadly.
"From my grandmother?""
"From confusion.""
"From knowing people loved me?""
The question hit hard.
Tanya looked down.
For the first time, she seemed to understand how terrible her words sounded.
But she still didn't apologize.
Instead, she said:
"Your father doesn't understand what he married into.""
Andre's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?""
Tanya grabbed her purse.
"It means you should ask Lena what she did seven years ago.""
She walked toward the door.
Andre followed.
"You're leaving?""
"I need space.""
"No.""
She stopped.
"No?""
"Not until you answer one question.""
She turned.
"What?""
"Why did you hide Ben's birthday card?""
For a moment, Tanya said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Because I knew if Ben saw it, he would start asking questions.""
Andre felt a chill.
"What questions?""
Tanya opened the door.
"The same questions you're asking now.""
She left.
Andre stood there.
Watching the door close.
That afternoon, Andre drove Ben to meet Lena.
The old woman lived in a small blue house at the edge of town.
When the door opened, Lena immediately started crying.
"Ben.""
The boy froze.
He had imagined this moment for months.
But now that it was real, he didn't know what to do.
The woman stepped forward.
Then stopped.
Like she was afraid he would disappear.
"I've missed you.""
Ben looked at her.
"Why didn't you come?""
Lena's face broke.
"I tried.""
"Mom told Dad you needed time.""
Lena looked at Andre.
Her expression changed.
"She told you that?""
Andre nodded.
The old woman closed her eyes.
"Your wife never wanted me near Ben.""
"Why?""
Lena looked at Ben.
"Because I knew something she didn't want anyone to know.""
Ben stepped closer.
"What?""
Lena walked to a cabinet and pulled out a small box.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
All with Ben's name.
"I wrote to you every month.""
Ben stared.
"Why didn't I get them?""
Lena looked toward Andre.
"Because Tanya intercepted them.""
Andre felt sick.
Ben picked up one letter.
His hands trembled.
"She kept these?""
Lena nodded.
"All of them.""
Andre opened the box.
At the bottom was another envelope.
Different from the others.
The handwriting made his blood run cold.
Because he recognized it.
Nia's handwriting.
The letter was dated three weeks before her death.
Andre slowly opened it.
The first line made his heart stop.
"Andre, if you are reading this, it means Tanya found a way to keep me silent...""
He stopped breathing.
Ben looked at him.
"What does it say?""
Andre stared at the letter.
Then at Lena.
The old woman whispered:
"Your wife was trying to tell you the truth.""
Andre read the next sentence.
And suddenly understood why Tanya had been afraid.
Because Nia's final letter wasn't about her death.
May you like
It was about Ben.
And the secret someone had spent seven years burying.
