Chapter 10: The Brother I Never Knew
I stared at the photograph on my phone until my hands started shaking.
Michael has a twin.
The words should have been impossible.
But after everything I had discovered, impossible no longer existed.
I looked at Victoria.
“Who is he?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she slowly took a sip of water.
That calmness made me angrier than any confession could have.
“You knew.””
Victoria placed the glass down.
“Yes.””
“You knew Michael had a twin brother?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
She looked at me.
“Because I wasn’t sure which brother I could trust.””
Detective Collins leaned forward.
“Start explaining.””
Victoria sighed.
“The boy in the photograph was named Nathan Carter.””
The name felt unfamiliar.
But hearing my family name attached to it made my stomach turn.
“My father had another son?””
Victoria nodded.
“Years ago, your father had an affair. When Nathan was born, he wanted nothing to do with him.””
I looked at the photograph again.
A child abandoned by the same man who raised me.
“What happened to him?””
Victoria’s expression changed.
“He was sent away.””
“Where?””
“A private facility.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does when you understand your father.””
Her words were sharp.
“Your father believed problems disappeared if he paid enough money.””
I thought about my childhood.
The expensive house.
The perfect family image.
The secrets nobody discussed.
Victoria continued.
“Nathan grew up knowing he was unwanted.””
“And Michael?””
“Michael visited him.””
My heart sank.
“They knew each other?””
“Yes.””
Victoria looked at me.
“They became close.””
Detective Collins interrupted.
“So Michael had an unknown twin brother with a motive.””
Victoria nodded.
“But that’s not the entire story.””
I looked at her.
“What else?””
She hesitated.
“Nathan wasn’t just angry.””
“What was he?””
Victoria’s voice lowered.
“He was obsessed.””
The room felt colder.
“With what?””
“With taking back what he believed was stolen from him.””
I stood.
“So Michael and Nathan planned this together?””
Victoria looked away.
“Maybe.””
“Maybe?””
She met my eyes.
“Daniel, you need to understand something. Michael is careful. Nathan is emotional.””
I remembered the message.
The photo.
The person standing behind Victoria at the hospital.
“Where is Nathan now?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
Detective Collins noticed too.
“You know where he is.””
Victoria stayed silent.
Sarah stood.
“Ms. Hale, if you’re protecting him—”
“I’m protecting myself.””
Her voice became harder.
“You think Michael was dangerous?””
She looked at me.
“You have no idea what Nathan is capable of.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Emily.
I answered immediately.
“Emily?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Daniel, where are you?””
“With Detective Collins.””
“Good.””
A pause.
Then:
“Do not come back home.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
She whispered:
“The person who has been inside our house.””
I stood.
“Who?””
Emily took a shaky breath.
“Someone who has been there for years.””
The call cut off.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
I looked at Sarah.
“We need to go.””
When we arrived at the hospital, Emily’s door was open.
A nurse was standing outside.
“Mr. Carter?””
“What happened?””
The nurse looked nervous.
“Your wife said someone came into her room.””
My heart dropped.
“Who?””
“She didn’t see his face.””
“Where is she?””
The nurse pointed inside.
Emily was sitting on the bed.
But she was holding something.
A small envelope.
I rushed over.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“But he was here.””
“Who?””
She looked at me.
“Michael.””
I froze.
“No.””
“Yes.””
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“How do you know?””
Emily opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
May you like
One sentence.
*I was never trying to kill you, Emily. I was trying to save you from Nathan.*
