Chapter 12: The Betrayal Inside The Family
My dad had a brother.
I didn’t know that.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life that had been hidden away.
Dad stood completely still.
“My brother?””
Daniel nodded.
“Evan.””
I had never heard that name before.
But Dad had.
And the moment he heard it, his face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Pain.
“My brother died years ago.””
Daniel looked down.
“He didn’t.””
Nobody moved.
Dad’s voice became quiet.
“What?””
Daniel looked at Karen.
“Tell him.””
Karen opened her folder.
“We found evidence that Evan Mercer changed his identity after leaving the family.””
Dad stared.
“That’s impossible.””
“It happened.””
Dad sat down.
I watched him.
The strongest person I knew suddenly looked lost.
“Why would he do this?””
Daniel answered.
“Because he believed your father had everything.””
Dad shook his head.
“That makes no sense.””
“He thought your mother chose you over him.””
I didn’t understand.
“How does that involve me?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because your trust was created after your mother passed.””
He paused.
“And Evan believed that money should have belonged to him.””
My hands tightened.
“So he tried to take it?””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
Dad looked at Amanda.
“And you knew?””
Amanda shook her head.
“I suspected.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I didn’t have proof.””
Dad looked angry.
“You made my son suffer because you were investigating?””
Amanda lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised everyone.
“I thought I could fix it before you found out.””
Dad shook his head.
“You should have trusted me.””
Amanda whispered:
“I was afraid you would choose everyone else over me.””
Nobody spoke.
Because that was the truth.
Amanda had made terrible choices.
But underneath everything was fear.
Fear of losing her family.
Fear of never being enough.
Then Karen’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
“What?””
Everyone looked at her.
She listened for several seconds.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
“We found Evan.””
Dad stood.
“Where?””
Karen looked at him.
“He’s been watching the house.””
A cold feeling went through me.
“What?””
Karen looked at me.
“Ethan…”
She stopped.
Like she didn’t want to scare me.
But I already knew.
Someone had been watching.
Someone knew about the device.
Someone knew we were searching.
Dad immediately moved closer to me.
“What happened?””
Karen took a deep breath.
“The camera outside your house captured him leaving something at your front door.””
My heart started racing.
“What did he leave?””
Karen looked at Dad.
“A letter.””
Dad frowned.
“To who?””
Karen’s voice became quiet.
“It was addressed to Ethan.””
I stared.
A letter.
For me.
Dad slowly walked toward the door.
But before he opened it, his phone received a message.
He looked down.
Then his face went completely pale.
Because the message wasn’t from Evan.
It was from someone else.
Someone who knew exactly what was happening.
May you like
And it only said:
*“Ask Amanda what she did the night Ethan’s mother died.””*
