Chapter 11: The Man Who Knew Everything
Dad didn’t sleep that night.
Neither did I.
The next morning, he was already at the kitchen table with a laptop open, searching through old records.
I watched him from the doorway.
He looked different.
Older.
Like eight years of unanswered questions had suddenly landed on his shoulders.
“Who is Marcus?”” I asked.
Dad looked up.
For a moment, he considered lying.
Then he stopped.
“No more secrets.””
I sat down.
“Good.””
He took a deep breath.
“Marcus was my business partner.””
I frowned.
“You never mentioned him.””
“Because after your mother died, I cut ties with him.””
“Why?””
Dad looked away.
“Because I thought he betrayed me.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did he?””
Dad stared at the screen.
“I don’t know anymore.””
Claire sat nearby.
“Marcus had access to your finances.””
Dad nodded.
“He handled some of our investments.””
“And Brenda?””
Dad looked at her.
“They met through him.””
The pieces started connecting.
Brenda.
The money.
The hidden documents.
My mother’s warnings.
Marcus was somewhere in the middle.
Dad opened an old file.
“I haven’t looked at these in years.””
Inside were emails and financial documents.
He scrolled through them.
Then stopped.
“What?””
He turned the laptop toward us.
There was a transfer.
Money moved from our account.
Then transferred into another account.
The account belonged to Marcus Hale.
My heart raced.
“He stole from us?””
Dad shook his head.
“Not exactly.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means someone used his account.””
Claire leaned closer.
“When?””
Dad checked the date.
Then froze.
“The day before Elena died.””
The room went silent.
I felt sick.
“He was involved.””
Dad stood.
“We need to find him.””
Before we could move, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
Dad answered.
“Hello?””
A deep voice responded.
I couldn’t hear the words.
But I saw Dad’s expression change.
“Where are you?””
Pause.
“No.””
Another pause.
Then Dad said:
“You have five minutes to explain why my wife’s name is in your records.””
He hung up.
I stood.
“Was that him?””
Dad nodded.
“Marcus.””
Claire looked worried.
“What did he say?””
Dad grabbed his coat.
“He wants to meet.””
“Where?””
Dad looked at me.
“At the old warehouse.””
I frowned.
“What warehouse?””
Dad hesitated.
“The place where Elena and I started our first business.””
Something about that answer bothered me.
“Why would he choose there?””
Dad didn’t answer.
Because he was thinking the same thing.
We drove there twenty minutes later.
The warehouse had been abandoned for years.
The windows were broken.
The old sign outside was faded.
Dad parked.
Before getting out, he looked at me.
“You stay close.””
I nodded.
Inside, the building smelled like dust and rust.
Then a voice echoed.
“Andre.””
A man stepped from the shadows.
Older than Dad.
Tired.
But familiar.
Marcus Hale.
Dad walked forward.
“You have answers.””
Marcus looked at me.
Then sighed.
“She brought her daughter.””
Dad’s expression changed.
“You know who she is?””
Marcus looked away.
“Yes.””
My heart pounded.
“How?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Dad grabbed his arm.
“How do you know my daughter?””
Marcus looked at him sadly.
“Because Elena told me.””
“Told you what?””
Marcus stared at me.
May you like
Then said:
“That Nia was never supposed to find out who her real father was.””
