Chapter 9: The Family That Lied Together
I stared at my uncle’s message.
Before your wife tells you everything.
The words felt like a threat disguised as concern.
I showed the phone to everyone.
My mother’s face changed immediately.
“He knows.””
I looked at her.
“He knows what?””
She looked terrified.
“That you found the documents.””
Ryan stepped closer.
“Who is your uncle?””
I answered without looking away from the screen.
“Richard Hale.””
Ryan’s expression tightened.
“Your father’s brother?””
“Yes.””
Emily nodded slowly.
“He was the one.””
I looked at her.
“The one who helped your father?””
“Yes.””
The room felt smaller.
I had spent my entire life seeing Richard as family.
He was the person who taught me how to fish.
The person who gave speeches at birthdays.
The person who called me after my father died and said:
“We’ll get through this together.””
Now I wondered if every word had been a lie.
My mother sat down.
“Your father suspected Richard for years.””
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because he was your uncle.””
She looked at me sadly.
“Your father couldn’t accept it.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, my lawn was still half-cut.
The abandoned mower sat where Ryan had left it.
A normal scene.
A normal house.
Except my entire family had been built on secrets.
My phone rang.
Richard.
Everyone looked at me.
I answered.
“Hello?””
His voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
“Daniel.””
I said nothing.
“You got my message.””
“Yes.””
A pause.
“I know this is confusing.””
I almost laughed.
“Confusing?””
“Your mother is there, isn’t she?””
I looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because she always goes looking for trouble.””
My mother’s face hardened.
“Richard.””
He heard her.
“Evelyn.””
The way he said her name made my skin crawl.
“You should have stayed out of this.””
I put the phone on speaker.
“What did you do?””
Richard sighed.
“Daniel, don’t let emotions control you.””
“Answer me.””
“You think your father was perfect?””
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
“I know he wasn’t.””
“Good.””
Richard continued.
“Because the truth is complicated.””
Emily stepped closer.
“Tell him the truth, Richard.””
Silence.
Then Richard said:
“You should not be talking.””
Emily’s face went pale.
“What does that mean?””
“You know exactly what it means.””
I looked at her.
Richard knew her.
Not just knew of her.
Knew her.
“How do you know Emily?””
Another silence.
Then Richard answered:
“She worked for me.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Emily looked away.
Richard continued.
“Before she married you, she was investigating your father’s company.””
I looked at Emily.
“Is that true?””
She didn’t deny it.
“I was.””
“Why?””
“Because I thought your father destroyed my family.””
Ryan looked at her.
“And then you found out he didn’t.””
“Yes.””
Richard laughed softly.
“And that’s when everything became difficult.””
I gripped the phone.
“You manipulated all of us.””
“No, Daniel.””
His voice became colder.
“Your father manipulated all of us.””
I felt anger rise.
“You stole from him.””
“I corrected an injustice.””
“You ruined people’s lives.””
“Your father did that first.””
The call went quiet.
Then Richard said something that made everyone freeze.
“Daniel, you need to understand one thing.””
“What?””
“Your father didn’t hide those documents to protect you.””
I frowned.
“Then why?””
“Because he was afraid you would discover what he did.””
Nobody moved.
I looked at the others.
My mother.
Emily.
Ryan.
Everyone had a different version of my father.
A different truth.
Richard continued:
“The original documents aren’t proof of my crime.””
My heart pounded.
“Then what are they?””
A pause.
Then:
“They prove your father betrayed everyone.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Ryan broke the silence.
“Do you believe him?””
I looked at the people around me.
The people who had all lied.
“I don’t know.””
Then my computer made another sound.
A notification.
A file had been uploaded remotely.
The title appeared on the screen.
*Daniel Hale — Final Statement*
I stared at it.
My father’s name.
My hands moved toward the mouse.
But before I clicked, Emily whispered:
“Don’t.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
May you like
Her eyes filled with fear.
“Because that file is the reason your father died.””
