Chapter 9: The Memory Laura Buried
The drive home felt longer than ever.
Nobody spoke.
Not because we had nothing to say.
Because there was too much.
Every answer created another question.
Every secret uncovered another one waiting underneath.
When we arrived, Laura remained in the car.
I noticed immediately.
She wasn’t scared of Robert.
She wasn’t scared of my father.
She was scared of the past.
I opened her door.
“Laura.””
She looked up.
“I should have told him.””
I glanced toward the house.
Marcus was standing by the window.
Waiting.
“For eighteen years, I thought I was protecting him.””
Her voice cracked.
“But I was protecting myself.””
I sat beside her.
“What happened the night Marcus was born?””
She closed her eyes.
“I saw your father.””
My entire body went still.
“When?””
“The hospital.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because he came to see me.””
The anger returned instantly.
“He went there?””
“Yes.””
Laura looked at her hands.
“He knew I had given birth.””
“Did he see Marcus?””
“Yes.””
I struggled to understand.
“He saw his grandson.””
Laura nodded.
“And he made me an offer.””
The air felt heavy.
“What offer?””
She looked at me.
“He said he could make sure Marcus was taken care of.””
My jaw tightened.
“And?””
“I refused.””
“Then what?””
Laura looked toward the house.
“Then he showed me something.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
I frowned.
“What photograph?””
“Of you.””
That made no sense.
“Why?””
“Because he wanted me to believe you had already moved on.””
My stomach turned.
“He lied.””
“Yes.””
She wiped her eyes.
“He showed me a picture of you with another woman.””
I froze.
Another woman?
“Who?””
“I didn’t know.””
“Did you believe him?””
She looked away.
“At the time, I was exhausted. Alone. Holding a newborn baby. I had just lost the person I loved.””
Her voice became softer.
“And then your father told me you had chosen a different life.””
I felt a pain I couldn’t describe.
Both of us had been manipulated.
Both of us had been made to believe the other gave up.
I looked at the house.
“At least you knew about Marcus.””
Laura nodded.
“And I should have found a way to tell you.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Her answer was simple.
“Because your father threatened to destroy you.””
I looked at her.
“He said he would make sure you lost everything.””
The pieces finally connected.
My father hadn’t just separated us.
He controlled both sides.
He created a world where we would hate each other.
Where we would never search for the truth.
I went inside.
Marcus was waiting.
“What did she say?””
I looked at him.
“She saw my father the day you were born.””
His face changed.
“My grandfather knew me?””
I nodded.
Marcus sat down slowly.
The pain in his eyes was something I would never forget.
“He knew.””
“Yes.””
“And he still let me grow up without you.””
I sat beside him.
“I’m sorry.””
He looked at me.
“Stop saying that.””
I froze.
He took a breath.
“I know you’re sorry.””
His voice softened.
“But you didn’t do this.””
For the first time since meeting him, I saw something different.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But understanding.
Then the lights suddenly went out.
The entire house fell into darkness.
Emily gasped.
“What happened?””
I stood up.
“Stay here.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, a car was parked across the street.
The engine was running.
The headlights were off.
Someone was watching us.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A voice whispered:
“You should have left the past buried.””
I stared at the car outside.
“Who are you?””
The person laughed softly.
Then said:
“Ask your father’s favorite child.””
My blood ran cold.
Because my father only had one child.
Me.
Unless…
There was another secret.
One more child.
May you like
One more lie.
And this time, it was coming from inside my own family.
