Chapter 71: The Hidden Truth

Vincent’s mansion was in an unsettling silence that afternoon, only interrupted by the soft murmur of rain hitting the windows. Clara and Shopia had gone to their father’s house to confront him about the secrets he had been hiding, sitting in front of him in the grand living room, their gazes fixed and filled with uncertainty. They had decided to confront him together, knowing that the answers they sought could only come from him. The tension in the air was palpable, and though the atmosphere seemed calm, the hearts of the sisters beat fiercely, as if everything could explode at any moment.

Vincent, sitting in his black leather chair, watched them with an impassive expression, but Clara noticed a slight tension in his jaw, as if he were struggling against something far greater than he could handle. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, but the bitter taste of the truth hung over them, waiting to be revealed.

Clara, with a determination she had never shown before, was the first to speak.

"Father," her voice was firm, but concern shone in her eyes. "We know you've been investigating Mom, and I want to know why. What do you know about her? Why do you think she's not dead?"

Shopia tensed upon hearing the question. She had heard fragments of Clara’s suspicions, but now that the question was in the air, she couldn’t help but feel a knot in her stomach. Vincent didn’t respond immediately. His gaze shifted toward the window, as if searching for the answer in the rain that fell heavily outside the mansion.

"Your mother..." he finally said, his voice deep and almost inaudible, "wasn’t who you thought she was."

Clara and Shopia exchanged glances, their hearts racing. The tension in the air intensified.

"What do you mean by that?" Shopia asked, her voice trembling slightly, though she was trying to remain composed.

Vincent took a deep breath, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Elena wasn’t just a mother and wife. She was involved in far more than I ever imagined. She was a spy. When her life ended, it wasn’t because she was sick; it was due to a very strange accident. Her body was never found. I think she decided to disappear herself... and left me to carry the secrets she had with her, surely as a way to protect us."

Clara stood up, astonished and confused, the truth beginning to crumble before her eyes, but she couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing.

"What do you mean 'decided to disappear'?" Her voice trembled, but the fury was evident. "Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell us the truth about what really happened to Mom?"

Vincent looked at her with a mix of pain and regret, but there was something else in his eyes: a deep fear.

"Because I wasn’t ready for you to know," he answered in a low and serious tone. "I wasn’t prepared to face it, and I certainly wasn’t ready for you and Shopia to carry all that comes with her death. Besides, it’s only a supposition that she is still alive."

Clara moved closer to him, her face reddened by contained rage.

"What’s hiding, Dad? How big is the secret?" she demanded, unable to contain the emotion in her voice.

Vincent looked at her for a long moment before responding, as if weighing his words carefully.

"Elena was involved in a spy network. She wasn’t just a spy; she was a key piece in a larger operation. When I discovered what she was doing, I knew things wouldn’t end well. And then… she disappeared."

Clara froze for a moment, unable to process the information. The idea that her mother had been involved in something so dangerous seemed surreal, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

"So, Mom didn’t die by accident?" Shopia asked, her voice trembling, fearing the answer that was about to come.

Vincent slowly shook his head.

"No, Shopia. Her death seems to be a facade. But…" he paused, swallowing hard, "I think she didn’t die. She just faked her death to escape. And now, years later, I’m searching for answers about what really happened."

Clara felt like the ground had opened beneath her feet. Everything she thought she knew about her mother, about her family, had been a lie. Elena had disappeared, yes, but not in the way they had been told. Her mother, the woman she had mourned, could be alive, hiding, far from them.

"And why didn’t you tell me before?" Clara asked, her voice breaking. "Why did you let me live all these years thinking she was dead?"

Vincent couldn’t look her in the eyes. He knew he had made a mistake by keeping that secret, but he felt it was the only thing he could do to protect them.

"Because I didn’t want you to carry the same burden I have. I didn’t want you to get involved in that world, and especially not to get mixed up with your mother’s enemies."

Shopia, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a low but firm voice.

"And now what? What are we going to do with all this? With Mom? With what you’re telling us?"

Vincent slowly stood up, his expression reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"The only thing we can do now is investigate further. And I will protect you, no matter the cost. But you need to know that, if we go forward, there’s no turning back. This will change our lives forever."

Clara and Shopia exchanged a glance, filled with uncertainty but also with determination. They knew that now they had to face the truth, no matter how terrifying it might be.