Chapter 16 - My Mother Finally Admitted Why She Chose Renee
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Carmen stood before me in the empty hallway of the ballroom.
For the first time in my life, she seemed to have forgotten how to control her expression.
“You have no idea what your father was involved in,” she whispered.
I stared at her.
“Then tell me.”
She looked toward the conference room.
“Not here.”
I led her into a private sitting room.
Gabriel remained outside.
My mother sat on the edge of an upholstered chair, gripping her handbag.
I stayed standing.
“Start with Elena Vega.”
Carmen closed her eyes.
“Elena worked for the relief trust. She was very good with numbers.”
“What did she discover?”
“Payments that weren't supposed to be questioned.”
I felt anger rise.
“You mean stolen money.”
Carmen looked down.
“Your father had financial obligations from older business arrangements.”
“Who was he paying?”
She hesitated.
“Victor March.”
I recognized the name.
Victor had once managed several private transportation contracts for Antonio.
He disappeared from Chicago's business circles years earlier.
My father had always described him as unreliable.
Apparently, the relationship had been more complicated.
Carmen continued.
“Victor controlled companies your father used when certain business arrangements failed. There were losses, obligations, and people demanding repayment.”
“So Antonio used charitable money to cover those obligations.”
She didn't answer.
I didn't need her to.
“Elena discovered it,” I said.
“Yes.”
“And threatened to report him.”
Carmen nodded.
“She had copies of everything.”
I leaned forward.
“What happened to her?”
“Your father arranged a meeting. Elena agreed to come to a warehouse office to discuss the records.”
“The warehouse that burned?”
Carmen began crying.
“We weren't supposed to hurt her.”
My stomach tightened.
“Mother.”
“I swear, Michael. We wanted the documents returned.”
I stared at her.
“Who started the fire?”
“I don't know.”
I searched her face.
For the first time, I wasn't sure whether she was lying or simply terrified.
Then I asked:
“Why did you arrange for Renee to enter the adoption program?”
Carmen wiped her eyes.
“After the fire, everything became chaotic. The authorities were trying to establish what happened. We heard the children had been separated.”
“Where was Elena?”
“We were told she was missing.”
“And Lucas?”
My mother's face changed.
I stepped closer.
“You knew about her son.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Carmen shook her head.
“Victor's people handled the second placement.”
I felt cold.
“You allowed a child to disappear into the hands of a man you feared?”
She began sobbing.
“I believed both children would be safer if they were kept apart.”
“And Renee?”
“I knew you'd protect her. You were already supporting the shelter. I made sure the placement referral brought her to your attention.”
I stared at her.
For four years, I'd believed fate had brought Renee into my life.
Now my mother was telling me she'd helped arrange our first meeting.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you would have started asking questions.”
I looked away.
Then asked the question that had haunted me since Christmas.
“If you knew Renee needed protection, why did you treat her so cruelly?”
Carmen covered her face.
“Because every time I looked at her, I remembered what happened.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“You punished a little girl because you couldn't live with your own guilt.”
She said nothing.
I stepped toward the door.
“Michael, please.”
I stopped.
She whispered:
“If Victor learns Elena's records have been found, he'll come looking for the children.”
I looked back.
“Then he'd better understand something.”
Carmen lifted her eyes.
“I'm not the man you convinced yourself I was when I was younger.”
I opened the door.
“And I won't let you use my daughter to protect your secrets again.”
Behind me, my mother began crying.
But I kept walking.
Because for the first time, I understood that Renee hadn't been unwanted by everyone.
May you like
She had been placed where somebody knew she would be loved.
And the people responsible had spent four years making sure I never learned why.
