Chapter 12: The Man Behind the Lie
Evan slammed the storage door shut.
“Back entrance,” he whispered.
We ran.
Boxes toppled behind us as Victor entered the unit.
“Don't let them leave!”” he shouted.
Nathan grabbed my hand.
“Come on!””
We sprinted through a narrow corridor between storage units.
A gunshot cracked behind us.
I screamed.
Clara pulled me behind a concrete pillar.
“Stay down!””
Another shot struck the metal door.
Evan called emergency services.
Nathan crouched beside me.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
He looked at my face.
“I swear to you, Rachel, I never knew about the fake divorce.””
“But you knew about the inheritance.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew Diane wanted the house.””
“Yes.””
“You still stayed.””
He looked down.
“I thought I could control her.””
“You couldn't.””
“No.””
A shadow moved at the far end of the corridor.
Victor appeared.
“Give me the certificate!””
Evan shouted back.
“Put the weapon down!””
Victor laughed.
“You have no idea what you're holding.””
I clutched the original certificate.
“You've spent years trying to hide this.””
Victor looked directly at me.
“Because your father was supposed to destroy it.””
“Why didn't he?””
“Because he was sentimental.””
Nathan stepped forward.
“What did you do to him?””
Victor's expression changed.
“I didn't kill your father.””
“Then who did?””
Victor smiled.
“Ask your mother.””
Nathan went still.
Victor continued.
“Diane ordered the entire thing.””
My stomach dropped.
“She ordered what?””
“The attack. The hospital manipulation. The fake divorce. Everything.””
Nathan shook his head.
“No.””
“You've been her puppet since you were a teenager.””
“Shut up.””
Victor raised the weapon.
“She told you your father abandoned you.””
“He died.””
“No.””
Victor looked at me.
“He's alive.””
Nathan stopped breathing.
“What?””
Victor's smile widened.
“Your father-in-law has been alive for eleven years.””
Clara whispered, “Victor…”
“It's time they knew.””
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Victor turned toward the road.
“Give me the certificate.””
“No.””
He raised the weapon.
Nathan moved in front of me.
“Take me instead.””
Victor laughed.
“Still trying to be the hero?””
Nathan stared at him.
“Where is my father?””
Victor hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Evan lunged.
The weapon hit the ground.
Clara kicked it away.
Victor swung at Evan, but Nathan tackled him into the wall.
Police rushed through the gate seconds later.
Victor was handcuffed.
But I barely noticed.
I was staring at Nathan.
“My father-in-law is alive.””
He nodded.
“I need to find him.””
A detective approached.
“Rachel Carter?””
“Yes.””
“We found something in Victor's vehicle.””
He handed me a sealed plastic bag.
Inside was a photograph.
My father.
Thomas Carter.
And Diane.
They were standing together in front of a house I had never seen.
On the back:
*Safe house — final meeting.*
Below that was an address.
I looked at Clara.
“Do you know this place?””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
She pointed toward the north side of town.
“Your father owned it.””
I stared at her.
“My father owned another house?””
“He did.””
“Why didn't I know?””
“Because it was purchased under another name.””
Nathan stepped closer.
“What name?””
Clara looked at him.
“Thomas Carter.””
Nathan's eyes widened.
“He hid my father there?””
“Your father hid both of you from Diane.””
I frowned.
“Both of us?””
Clara nodded.
“Your father wasn't just protecting Thomas.””
She looked at me.
“He was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From Diane discovering the truth about your mother.””
My breath caught.
“My mother?””
Clara reached into her bag and pulled out a final envelope.
“This was supposed to be given to you on your thirtieth birthday.””
I stared at it.
My name was written across the front.
The handwriting was my father's.
I opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed my mother holding me as a baby.
Standing beside her was Diane.
I stared at the image.
I had never seen Diane in a photograph from my childhood.
Then I noticed the writing beneath it.
*Rachel, the woman you call your mother was not the woman who gave birth to you.*
My fingers went numb.
Nathan whispered, “What?””
I turned the photograph over.
On the back was another sentence.
*Diane knows who your real mother is.*
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID showed a number I had never seen.
I answered.
A man's trembling voice said:
“Rachel?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“I’m Thomas Carter.””
Nathan froze.
The voice continued.
“I've been hiding for eleven years.””
A pause.
“Your father didn't die that night.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then where is he?””
Thomas breathed shakily.
“He's been looking for you.””
“Where?””
May you like
His answer came quietly.
“Standing beside your real mother.””
