Chapter 11: The Brother Who Came Back From The Grave
My father whispered one word.
"Robert.""
I didn't understand.
Not at first.
Then I remembered the photograph.
The man Daniel showed us.
My father's brother.
My uncle.
The man everyone thought was gone.
The door opened slowly.
Nobody moved.
The person standing outside looked older than I remembered.
But there was no mistaking him.
Robert Hayes.
My father's brother.
The man who had attended my father's funeral.
The man who had hugged me and told me my father would be proud.
The man who had looked me in the eyes while knowing my father was alive.
He smiled.
"Marcus.""
I stepped back.
"You were dead.""
Robert laughed softly.
"Apparently, your family has a habit of that.""
Nobody found it funny.
My father pointed the gun.
"You shouldn't have come here.""
Robert looked at him.
"Still dramatic after all these years.""
"Why?""
Robert sighed.
"Because I wanted to finish what we started.""
My stomach tightened.
My father looked furious.
"We never started anything.""
Robert smiled.
"You always believed you were the hero.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Robert, this ends tonight.""
Robert glanced at him.
"Daniel. Still protecting him?""
Daniel's face hardened.
"I protected the wrong person once.""
The words shocked me.
"What does that mean?""
Nobody answered.
I looked at my father.
"Tell me.""
My father lowered the gun slightly.
"Robert wasn't the person who stole the money.""
Robert smiled.
"No.""
He looked at my mother.
"I wasn't.""
My mother went pale.
"Don't.""
Robert laughed.
"There it is.""
"What?""
"The fear.""
I looked between them.
"Someone please explain.""
Robert stepped inside.
"Your father wasn't investigating a theft.""
My father shook his head.
"Don't listen to him.""
"He was investigating a murder.""
The room froze.
My heart started pounding.
"Whose murder?""
Robert looked at me.
"Your grandfather's.""
I stared.
"My grandfather died naturally.""
Robert smiled.
"That's what everyone believed.""
My father looked at him.
"Stop.""
"No.""
Robert pointed at my father.
"You spent eight years hiding while everyone blamed the wrong people.""
He turned toward me.
"Your father discovered the truth.""
"Which was?""
Robert took a breath.
"Your grandfather was killed because of the family trust.""
I looked at the documents.
The $3.5 million trust.
The condition.
No Mitchell family member could inherit.
"Why?""
Robert smiled.
"Because your grandfather knew the Mitchell family couldn't be trusted.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Don't talk about my family.""
Robert looked at her.
"You don't even know your own family.""
Her face changed.
"What does that mean?""
He walked closer.
"Your mother didn't just help steal money.""
Vanessa froze.
"She helped cover up a murder.""
I watched Vanessa's expression collapse.
"No.""
Robert looked at my father.
"You never told her.""
My father looked away.
"I was trying to protect her.""
Vanessa started shaking.
"My mother...""
Robert nodded.
"Your mother was there the night Marcus's grandfather died.""
I felt sick.
Another secret.
Another lie.
Another person connected to my family.
I looked at my father.
"How many things don't I know?""
He looked at me sadly.
"Too many.""
Then Robert reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
And placed it on the table.
"What is that?""
Robert smiled.
"The final proof.""
My father stepped forward.
"Don't open it.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
His face changed.
Because for the first time tonight...
He looked afraid of the truth.
Robert leaned back.
"Because that envelope proves who really betrayed your family.""
I picked it up.
My hands trembled.
The name written on the front was only one word.
"Marcus.""
My own name.
My heart stopped.
"Who wrote this?""
Robert smiled.
"Your father.""
Everyone looked at my father.
May you like
He said nothing.
And that scared me more than anything.
