Chapter 12: The Truth Daniel Buried
The hospital room was silent.
Too silent.
Daniel sat beside the window.
His shoulders were lowered.
Like he had been carrying a secret so heavy that finally saying it out loud might break him.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“I need to tell you everything.””
I didn’t respond.
Because I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it.
But Lily deserved the truth.
So I nodded.
He took a deep breath.
“The night I went to my mother’s house, I didn’t just argue with her.””
Detective Harris listened carefully.
“What happened?””
Daniel looked at Lily.
“I saw the bruise.””
Lily looked down.
“I knew something was wrong.””
“Then what?””
“I grabbed Lily’s things.””
My heart stopped.
“You were going to take her?””
“Yes.””
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was.””
That wasn’t what I expected.
“But?””
He looked ashamed.
“But my mother stopped me.””
“How?””
“She told me Lily would be taken away from both of us if I accused her.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
“I know.””
“But you believed her?””
Daniel nodded.
“I was scared.””
I shook my head.
“No. You were afraid of losing control.””
He didn’t argue.
Because it was true.
“My mother knew exactly what to say.””
“What did she say?””
Daniel looked down.
“She said Sarah would never forgive me.””
My chest tightened.
“She knew.””
“Yes.””
“She knew your biggest fear was losing your family.””
Daniel nodded.
“And she used it.””
Detective Harris asked:
“What happened after that?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I left.””
The word was heavy.
“I left Lily there.””
Nobody spoke.
“I told myself I would come back the next morning.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Mom called me and said Lily was asleep.””
I felt sick.
“She lied.””
“Yes.””
“And you believed her.””
“Yes.””
Lily started crying softly.
Daniel immediately looked toward her.
“I’m sorry.””
She didn’t answer.
The silence from his daughter hurt him more than any punishment could.
Detective Harris stood.
“Mr. Carter, this information will be included in the investigation.””
Daniel nodded.
“I understand.””
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
A message.
Unknown number.
My blood froze.
*If you want to know the whole truth about Lily’s injuries, come alone.*
I showed Detective Harris.
His expression changed.
“Do not respond.””
Daniel looked at the message.
“Could it be my mother?””
Detective Harris shook his head.
“We don’t know.””
Another message appeared.
This time, it included a photo.
I opened it.
And my hands started shaking.
It was a picture of Lily.
Taken inside Evelyn’s house.
But it wasn’t from the night she was hurt.
It was from earlier.
Lily was sitting on the floor.
Crying.
And someone was standing behind her.
A man.
The picture cut off before showing his face.
Detective Harris leaned closer.
“When was this taken?””
I looked at the date.
My stomach dropped.
The date was one month before the hospital visit.
Before anyone knew anything.
Daniel whispered:
“That’s Mark.””
I looked at him.
“How do you know?””
He stared at the picture.
“Because he was there that night.””
“Which night?””
Daniel’s face turned pale.
“The night Lily first tried to tell me.””
The room went cold.
Detective Harris looked at him.
“What did Mark do?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
His phone suddenly rang.
Everyone looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Daniel answered.
A voice came through.
A man’s voice.
“Daniel.””
Daniel froze.
“Mark?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You finally remembered.””
Daniel gripped the phone.
“Where is my mother?””
A pause.
Then the man said:
“She’s not the person you should be worried about.””
My heart raced.
“Who should we be worried about?””
Mark’s voice became quieter.
“The person who has been lying to you since the beginning.””
The call ended.
And Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
Because he already knew who Mark meant.
He looked at me.
And whispered:
May you like
“Sarah…”
“I think the truth is worse than we thought.””
