Chapter 6 - The Photograph Proved Ronan’s Father Had Been Hiding the Truth From Both of Them
The photograph changed everything.
Ronan stared at it.
Tessa watched his face.
For the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely lost.
His father was standing beside Tessa's mother.
They were smiling.
Behind them stood Margaret Callahan.
And in Margaret's arms was a baby.
Tessa.
On the back was a date.
Fourteen years ago.
But the photograph had been taken much earlier.
Tessa's hands trembled.
"Who is my mother?"
Ronan didn't answer.
"I deserve to know."
"I know."
"Then tell me."
"I don't know."
She stared at him.
"You've spent fourteen years investigating my family."
"I never knew about you."
"Why?"
"Because someone erased you."
Tessa looked at the photograph.
Then she noticed something.
A ring.
Her mother's hand.
The ring had a strange symbol.
A black crescent.
Ronan recognized it.
"The Saint Crescent."
"What is that?"
"An old criminal organization."
Tessa swallowed.
"Daniel?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Ronan stared at the symbol.
"My father."
She looked at him.
"What?"
"He used to work with them."
The truth became uglier.
Ronan's father had not been innocent.
Margaret had been investigating her own husband.
Daniel had been involved.
Thomas Rowe had been a witness.
Eda had protected Tessa.
And Ronan had spent fourteen years hunting the wrong people.
Ronan ordered his men to find Thomas.
Tessa called her father.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
She whispered, "Something happened."
They drove to his house.
The front door was open.
Tessa ran inside.
The living room was empty.
A chair was overturned.
A cup of coffee was still warm.
On the table was a note.
DON'T TRUST RONAN.
Tessa stared.
Ronan took it.
"He wants you to believe I took him."
"Did you?"
"No."
Then Tessa heard something.
A faint sound from upstairs.
They ran.
Her father's bedroom was empty.
But the closet door was open.
Inside, they found a hidden compartment.
Documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And a letter addressed to Tessa.
She opened it.
My daughter,
If you're reading this, I failed.
I wanted to tell you everything.
But every time I tried, someone was watching.
Your mother was not who you think.
She was not Margaret's daughter.
She was Margaret's daughter-in-law.
Tessa stopped.
Ronan took the letter.
He read.
Your mother was named Evelyn.
She was married to Margaret's eldest son.
Ronan looked confused.
"I don't have an older brother."
The letter continued.
Because he died before you were born.
Tessa stared.
Ronan's older brother had been erased from the family history.
His name was Julian.
He had died at twenty-two.
Officially, a boating accident.
But Thomas's letter said otherwise.
Julian had discovered Daniel's betrayal.
He had been killed.
Evelyn had escaped.
She had given birth to Tessa.
Then she disappeared.
Margaret protected the baby.
Ronan's mother was not Tessa's grandmother.
She was her great-aunt.
Ronan sat down.
His entire understanding of his family had collapsed.
Then came another revelation.
Margaret had not died in the fire.
She survived.
For three days.
She had been taken to a private hospital.
Daniel had gone there.
He had finished the job.
But before she died, she gave Eda one final instruction.
Protect Tessa.
Tessa cried.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Ronan answered quietly.
"Because everyone who knew was afraid."
"Of Daniel?"
"No."
He looked at the Saint Crescent symbol.
"Of the person Daniel worked for."
A car stopped outside.
Ronan stood.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Tessa."
"I've been kept in the dark my entire life."
She picked up the gun he had placed on the table.
"I'm done."
Ronan stared.
"Do you know how to use that?"
"No."
"Then put it down."
She did.
"Fine."
He almost smiled.
"Good."
Then the lights went out.
A voice came through the darkness.
"Thomas Rowe is alive."
Tessa froze.
The voice continued.
"He's waiting for you."
Ronan raised his weapon.
"Who are you?"
The lights returned.
Nobody was there.
Only another photograph.
This one showed Thomas Rowe tied to a chair.
Behind him stood Daniel Vale.
And a second man.
The face had been scratched away.
But Ronan recognized the suit.
The ring.
May you like
The symbol.
His father's.
Related Stories
