The Truth Behind His Name

Chapter 11

Maya Collins stood in front of the bedroom mirror, staring at her reflection.

She had barely slept.

Her father’s confession kept playing in her mind. He had received money from Victoria Bennett, but he still hadn’t explained why.

And Evelyn’s final words troubled her even more.

She deserves to know who her father really is.

What did that mean?

Maya picked up her phone and dialled Evelyn’s number.

It rang several times before someone answered.

“Hello?”

“Evelyn, it’s Maya. We need to talk.”

There was a pause.

“I was wondering when you would call.”

“Stop speaking in riddles. What did you mean when you said I deserved to know who my father really is?”

Evelyn sighed.

“Not over the phone. Meet me at the old café near the central park. Eleven o’clock.”

“Why can’t you tell me now?”

“Because some things are better explained face-to-face.”

The call ended.

Maya stared at her phone.

Whatever Evelyn knew, she was determined to find out.

Daniel was in his office when Adrian arrived carrying a brown envelope.

“I think you should look at this.”

Daniel took it.

“What is it?”

“Something I found among the old Bennett family records.”

Inside were photocopies of several documents. One caught Daniel’s attention immediately.

It was a letter dated six years earlier.

He began reading.

Dear Victoria,

I have accepted your proposal. Maya will leave Daniel, and I will ensure she never returns to the family. However, I expect you to honour the amount we discussed.

Daniel’s face tightened.

The letter was signed by a man named Collins.

Maya’s father.

He read it again, hoping he had misunderstood.

“How did you find this?”

“It was hidden inside an old company file. Someone clearly didn’t want it discovered.”

Daniel dropped the letter onto the desk.

“Her own father helped separate us.”

Adrian nodded slowly.

“There’s something else. The payment wasn’t made only once. There were two transfers.”

“Two?”

“Yes. The second was made several months after Maya left.”

Daniel stared at the documents.

“What was the second payment for?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

Daniel stood and walked towards the window.

He had spent years blaming Maya for leaving. He had imagined countless explanations, but never this.

Two families had apparently made decisions about his future without asking him.

“Find out everything, Adrian. I want to know who else was involved.”

At eleven o’clock, Maya arrived at the café.

Evelyn was already seated at a corner table.

She looked older than Maya remembered, with tired eyes and a nervous expression.

“Thank you for coming,” Evelyn said.

Maya sat down.

“Tell me what you know.”

Evelyn glanced around before speaking.

“Six years ago, your father was in serious financial trouble. His business was failing, and he owed several people money.”

Maya frowned.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Victoria offered to help him. But her help came with a condition.”

Maya’s stomach tightened.

“He had to make me leave Daniel.”

Evelyn nodded.

“Yes. He was supposed to convince you that Daniel had rejected you. Victoria arranged for false messages to be sent to both of you.”

Maya closed her eyes.

“I know about the messages.”

“But there’s something else.”

Evelyn reached into her handbag and removed a photograph.

It showed a younger man standing beside Maya’s father.

Maya recognised him immediately.

“That’s my uncle.”

“Yes. Your father’s younger brother.”

Maya looked confused.

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Because he was the one who collected the second payment.”

Maya’s hands began to tremble.

“Why?”

Evelyn leaned closer.

“Your father didn’t act alone. Your uncle helped arrange everything, and he has been keeping another secret.”

Maya stared at her.

“What secret?”

Evelyn took a deep breath.

“Your uncle knew Victoria was planning to separate you and Daniel. But he also knew something about Daniel’s family that could have changed everything.”

Before Maya could ask another question, Evelyn’s phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and immediately looked frightened.

“I have to go.”

“Wait! You can’t just tell me that and leave.”

Evelyn stood.

“Be careful, Maya. Your uncle is not the man you think he is.”

She hurried towards the exit.

Maya remained seated, staring at the photograph.

Her family had become a collection of strangers.

That afternoon, Daniel returned home earlier than expected.

He found Maya sitting quietly in the living room.

“Hey,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

She looked up.

“I met Evelyn.”

Daniel sat beside her.

“What did she tell you?”

“That my father wasn’t the only person involved. My uncle helped him.”

Daniel’s expression darkened.

“Did she explain why?”

“Not completely.”

Maya handed him the photograph.

Daniel studied it.

“Who is this?”

“My uncle.”

He looked at the back of the photograph. There was a handwritten date and a short message.

For keeping the Bennett secret safe.

Daniel read it twice.

“The Bennett secret?”

Maya nodded.

“I don’t know what it means.”

Daniel placed the photograph on the table.

“Then we’ll find out.”

Just then, his phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number appeared.

“Stop investigating the Collins family. The next truth you uncover will destroy more than your relationship.”

Daniel showed Maya.

Her face went pale.

Before either of them could respond, another message arrived.

This time, it contained a photograph.

Daniel stared at it in disbelief.

It showed his grandfather standing beside Maya’s uncle outside a hospital.

The date was six years before Daniel and Maya had met.

Beneath the photograph were five words:

“Ask your mother about the hospital.”

Daniel slowly lowered the phone.

His grandfather had died years ago.

And Maya’s uncle had apparently known him.

What connection could possibly exist between their families?

Upstairs, Victoria was making a phone call.

“Did you send the photograph?” she asked.

A man’s voice answered.

“Yes. He has to know eventually.”

Victoria gripped the phone.

“You promised me this would remain buried.”

“I promised nothing of the sort.”

“Don’t you dare expose this family.”

The man laughed bitterly.

“Your family? Victoria, you forget that I helped you create this mess.”

Victoria’s voice dropped.

“What do you want?”

There was a long silence.

Then the man spoke.

“I want what you promised me six years ago.”

The call ended.

Victoria stood frozen.

For the first time, she realised that the person threatening her might be the one person she could never silence.

And downstairs, Daniel was already preparing to confront her.

The truth was no longer hiding.

It was coming for all of them.