Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Door
Nobody moved.
The paper shook in my hands.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
That scared me more than anything.
Dad always answered.
Even when the answer was difficult.
Especially then.
“Who is Michael?”” I asked.
Dad sat down slowly.
Lily looked between us.
“Daddy?””
He rubbed his face.
“Michael is my brother.””
“I know that.””
I looked at the paper.
“But why is his name there?””
Dad closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked older.
“I wanted to protect you.””
“From what?””
He didn’t answer.
Amanda did.
“He knows.””
Everyone looked at her.
She stood near the kitchen doorway.
Her expression was empty.
“Ethan knows now.””
Dad stood.
“Don’t.””
But Amanda kept going.
“He deserves to know.””
“Not from you.””
Her eyes filled with anger.
“Why? Because I’m the villain?””
Dad didn’t respond.
Amanda laughed bitterly.
“No. You need everyone to believe I’m the villain.””
Lily stepped closer to me.
“Mom, stop.””
Amanda looked at her.
And for the first time, she looked guilty.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
Lily’s voice was quiet.
“But you hurt Ethan.””
Amanda looked away.
Dad took the paper from my hand.
“Ethan, Michael was involved in your adoption.””
I felt confused.
“What does that mean?””
Dad hesitated.
“He knew your birth parents.””
The room became silent.
“How?””
Dad looked toward the window.
“Because he worked with them.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What kind of work?””
Dad didn’t answer.
That was when I knew.
Whatever the truth was…
It was bigger than chicken.
Bigger than Amanda.
Bigger than anything I had imagined.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Dad looked toward the front door.
Nobody expected anyone.
Then the doorbell rang again.
Amanda whispered:
“He came.””
Dad’s face changed.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
The doorknob moved.
Someone was trying to open the door.
Dad stepped in front of us.
“Stay behind me.””
The door opened slowly.
A man stood outside.
Older.
Tall.
His face looked familiar.
Not because I had seen him often.
Because I had seen pieces of him.
In my own reflection.
He looked at me.
And his expression collapsed.
“Ethan?””
My entire body went cold.
Dad stepped forward.
“Michael.””
The man swallowed.
“I didn’t think I’d see him again.””
Lily grabbed my arm.
“Ethan…”
Michael looked at me with tears in his eyes.
Then he said the words that changed my entire life.
“I’m sorry.””
Dad’s voice became sharp.
“You don’t get to say that.””
Michael looked down.
“I know.””
“Then why are you here?””
Michael slowly reached into his coat.
Dad moved immediately.
“What are you holding?””
Michael pulled out an old photograph.
He handed it forward.
“I came because Ethan deserves the truth.””
I looked at the picture.
It showed a young couple.
A baby.
And Michael standing beside them.
My hands started shaking.
Because I recognized the baby blanket.
I had one exactly like it.
Michael whispered:
“That baby was you.””
Then he looked at Dad.
“And Amanda knows what really happened to Ethan’s parents.””
Amanda’s face went white.
Dad turned toward her.
“What did he just say?””
Amanda took one step backward.
May you like
And for the first time…
She looked like she wanted to run.
