Chapter 6: The Brother Who Was Erased
Ethan took the photograph from Arthur's hand.
For several seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then he looked at his father.
"Where did you get this?""
Arthur's voice was barely audible.
"From Margaret.""
Ethan turned the photograph over.
The date was written in blue ink.
And beneath it were two words.
Michael and Margaret.
"Michael?"" Ethan repeated.
Rachel looked between them.
"Who is Michael?""
Arthur closed his eyes.
"My eldest son.""
I felt my heart beating against my ribs.
"You're saying my father was Michael Harrison?""
Arthur nodded.
I stepped backward.
"No. That can't be right.""
Ethan looked at me.
"Isabella, I didn't know.""
"Your brother?""
"My older brother. He died when I was fourteen.""
Arthur gripped his cane.
"Michael was twenty-seven when he disappeared. The family was told he'd left the country.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother was smiling.
Not the tired smile I remembered from her final years.
A genuine, carefree smile.
She was holding Michael's hand.
"Why didn't my mother tell me?""
Arthur answered quietly.
"Because Michael discovered something about Vanessa's family. He believed they were using the foundation to move stolen money.""
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"That's absurd.""
Arthur turned toward her.
"Michael confronted Richard Collins. Three days later, his car was found abandoned outside Macon.""
Ethan looked stunned.
"You told me Michael died in a boating accident.""
"That was the official story.""
"Was it true?""
Arthur's silence was answer enough.
Rachel looked down at the medical report.
"Then all of this started before my accident.""
Arthur nodded.
"Michael was investigating the same people who later targeted you.""
I felt sick.
My father had disappeared.
My mother had hidden the truth.
Rachel had been injured.
And somehow, all of it connected to the foundation.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why did you say my father caused Rachel's accident?""
Vanessa straightened her shoulders.
"Because Michael was the one who arranged the meeting where Rachel was supposed to sign the trust documents. He knew exactly what was going to happen.""
Rachel shook her head.
"That's impossible. Michael was kind to me.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You barely knew him.""
"I knew him well enough to know he would never hurt me.""
Arthur struck his cane against the floor.
"Vanessa, you need to stop.""
She turned toward him.
"Why? Are you afraid I'll tell them what really happened?""
Arthur's expression tightened.
"Don't.""
But Vanessa stepped closer to Rachel.
"Your husband has spent years protecting his family's reputation. Do you really believe he told you everything?""
Ethan moved between them.
"Stay away from my wife.""
Vanessa pointed at him.
"Then tell her about the hospital.""
Ethan frowned.
"What about it?""
Vanessa smiled.
"The night Rachel's condition worsened, you weren't in Atlanta. You were in London.""
Rachel looked at her husband.
"Ethan?""
He nodded slowly.
"I was.""
Vanessa continued.
"And when you returned, your father told you the accident had been investigated. You never questioned it.""
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Because I trusted my father.""
Arthur looked devastated.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
Rachel's voice broke.
"Did you know someone changed my medication?""
Arthur lowered his eyes.
"No.""
"Did you know Margaret was investigating it?""
"Yes.""
Rachel stared at him.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Arthur struggled to speak.
"Because I received a threat. They told me if I revealed what Margaret had discovered, you and Ethan would be next.""
Ethan looked furious.
"You let us live with this for three years?""
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"You were protecting the people who hurt her!""
The ballroom had become a courtroom without a judge.
Guests stood in small groups, whispering. Several had begun recording on their phones.
Vanessa noticed.
She suddenly turned toward the crowd.
"Everyone needs to understand that these accusations are coming from emotionally unstable people. I have supported this foundation for years. I have donated millions of dollars.""
Rachel looked at her.
"Money doesn't make you a good person.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"Neither does sitting in a wheelchair and playing the victim.""
Ethan lunged forward, but Rachel caught his hand.
"Don't," she whispered.
Then she looked directly at Vanessa.
"I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. I'm asking you to explain why my medical records were altered.""
Vanessa said nothing.
Richard was still being held by security near the entrance.
Suddenly, he shouted.
"Vanessa, tell them about the second account!""
Every head turned.
Vanessa looked at him.
"Shut up, Richard!""
But he continued.
"The twelve million isn't the only money missing. There's another account. Eighteen million dollars. The original Harrison trust.""
Arthur went completely still.
Ethan turned toward his father.
"What is he talking about?""
Richard looked desperate now.
"Michael transferred the ownership before he disappeared. The money was never supposed to belong to Arthur's family.""
I felt the silver key in my palm.
The eighteen million dollars.
My mother's letter.
My father.
It was all connected.
Richard pointed at me.
"That money belongs to Isabella.""
Vanessa rushed toward him.
"Don't you dare!""
Two security guards restrained her.
Rachel looked at me.
"Your mother knew?""
I nodded slowly.
"She left me a letter.""
I unfolded it again and noticed something I hadn't seen before.
There was a second sheet hidden behind the first.
A short handwritten message.
The key opens the safety deposit box at First National Bank, Savannah. Inside is the original trust agreement, the medical evidence, and the truth about Michael.
My breath caught.
But beneath that message was another sentence.
Whatever you do, Isabella, don't go there alone.
I looked at Ethan.
He read the note over my shoulder.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker, trembling.
"Mr. Harrison? This is Detective Miller. We just received a report from Savannah.""
Ethan's expression changed.
"What happened?""
The detective paused.
"We found the investigator you hired. His car was abandoned outside his apartment.""
"Is he all right?""
Another pause.
"He's missing.""
I felt the silver key dig into my palm.
Then the detective added something that made my stomach turn.
"Mr. Harrison, there's one more thing. Someone broke into his apartment and left a message specifically for Isabella Brooks.""
Ethan looked at me.
"What message?""
The detective answered.
"Tell Isabella her mother is alive. But if she wants to see her again, she must come alone.""
May you like
I stared at the phone.
And for the first time that night, I understood that finding my mother might be more dangerous than losing her.
