CHAPTER 2 The Medicine Was Never for Charles
No one moved.
Charles Reed slowly walked toward the kitchen island.
His eyes never left the old prescription bottle.
Thomas instinctively reached for it.
"Grandpa..."
"What is this?"
Charles gently took the bottle from his grandson's hand.
He turned it over once.
Almost affectionately.
Then sighed.
"It should have been destroyed years ago."
Vanessa looked from Charles to the bottle.
"You know what it is?"
Charles nodded.
"Better than anyone."
He placed the bottle beside the untouched glass of water.
Then quietly sat down.
For the first time in years...
He looked every bit of his seventy-eight years.
"I think it's time both of you heard the truth."
Thomas exchanged a glance with Vanessa.
Neither spoke.
Charles continued.
"Emily didn't suffer from insomnia."
Thomas frowned.
"But the label says—"
"The label is false."
Vanessa slowly leaned forward.
"What was it really for?"
Charles remained silent for a few seconds.
Then answered.
"It was medication for panic attacks."
The room became still.
"Emily lived in constant fear during the last year of her life."
Thomas looked stunned.
"My mother?"
Charles nodded.
"She believed someone inside this family wanted her dead."
Vanessa whispered,
"Was she right?"
Charles looked away.
"I never found proof."
Thomas slowly stood.
"So why keep the bottle?"
Charles smiled sadly.
"Because she asked me to."
Before Thomas could ask another question...
Charles reached into his robe pocket.
He removed a folded letter.
Yellowed with age.
The envelope bore Emily's handwriting.
Across the front, only six words were written.
Open only if I die first.
Thomas's hands began to tremble.
"You've had this all these years?"
Charles nodded.
"I promised her I wouldn't open it unless..."
His voice caught.
"...unless she was gone."
Vanessa looked at the envelope.
"Did you ever read it?"
Charles answered quietly.
"No."
Thomas stared at his grandfather in disbelief.
"You mean you've kept my mother's final letter for three years..."
"...without opening it?"
Charles nodded again.
"It wasn't written to me."
"Then who?"
Charles slowly placed the envelope on the marble countertop.
The name written beneath the seal became visible.
Not Charles.
Not Thomas.
Not Vanessa.
It simply read:
For the one who finally discovers the truth.
The room fell into complete silence.
Thomas carefully picked up the envelope.
The wax seal was still intact.
Untouched.
Whoever Emily had trusted...
She never expected to name them.
She expected them to earn the truth.
Before Thomas could break the seal...
A loud alarm suddenly echoed through the mansion.
The red light on the kitchen camera began flashing rapidly.
Someone...
Had just accessed the live security system remotely.
Thomas instinctively looked up.
On the camera's tiny indicator...
A new message appeared.
REMOTE VIEWER CONNECTED.
Someone else...
Was watching them.
👇 Chapter 3
