Chapter 10: The Father I Thought I Knew
The photograph stayed in my hand for a long time.
Too long.
The detective said something, but I couldn’t hear him.
All I could see was my father standing beside Thomas and Brandon.
Three men.
Three people who had shaped my entire life.
And now I didn’t know if any of them had been telling me the truth.
“Emily?””
The detective’s voice pulled me back.
I looked up.
“When was this taken?””
He glanced at the file.
“Seven years ago.””
Seven years.
One year after my mother disappeared.
One year after I buried her.
I looked at the photograph again.
My father wasn’t angry.
He wasn’t trapped.
He was standing there.
Calmly.
Like he belonged.
“I need to speak to him.””
The detective nodded.
“Your father is waiting outside.””
Of course he was.
He always waited.
Always appeared at the exact moment I needed him.
That was what made this hurt.
I walked out of the interview room.
My father stood in the hallway.
His face changed when he saw the photograph in my hand.
He knew.
He knew exactly what I had found.
“Emily…”
I raised the picture.
“Explain.””
His shoulders dropped.
“Where did you get that?””
“Don’t.””
My voice was sharper than I intended.
“Do not answer my question with another question.””
He closed his eyes.
A father who looked defeated.
A father who looked guilty.
“I can explain.””
“That’s what everyone says before they tell me another lie.””
The hallway went silent.
My father looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw something I had never seen before.
Fear.
Not fear of losing money.
Not fear of losing power.
Fear of losing me.
“I met with Thomas because I was trying to stop him.””
I stared.
“Then why were you smiling?””
“Because I had to pretend.””
“Pretend what?””
“That I trusted him.””
I shook my head.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because your mother is alive because of it.””
I froze.
“What?””
My father stepped closer.
“Your mother didn’t disappear alone.””
I listened.
“She had help.””
“From who?””
He looked at me.
“Me.””
The answer hit harder than I expected.
“You helped her fake her death?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Thomas was watching you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone was watching me.””
My father didn’t argue.
Because he knew.
I looked at the picture again.
“Then what is this?””
He took a breath.
“The meeting was arranged to convince Thomas that I was on his side.””
“Was Brandon there?””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“Because Brandon had already started working with him.””
My father’s voice became quiet.
“Your husband wasn’t just stealing from you, Emily. He was helping Thomas locate your mother.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
“Because your mother had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
My father looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“Proof that Thomas wasn’t the person who started the betrayal.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
A pause.
Then:
“Are you sure?””
My father became completely still.
I watched his face.
“What happened?””
He slowly lowered the phone.
“Your mother has been found.””
My heart jumped.
“Where?””
He looked at me.
“She’s at the hospital.””
I stood.
“Is she hurt?””
His silence was enough.
“What happened?””
My father swallowed.
“She was attacked.””
Everything inside me went cold.
“By who?””
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Because my phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
*Stop searching for the truth. Some secrets are buried for a reason.*
I stared at it.
Then another message came.
*Ask your father what happened the night your mother disappeared.*
I looked at my father.
He had seen the message.
And the expression on his face told me one thing.
May you like
There was still something he hadn’t told me.
Something worse than everything I already knew.
