Chapter 10: The Sin Buried Twenty Years Ago
I sat across from my mother, staring at the document between us.
My father’s signature.
Marcus’s name.
A connection I never knew existed.
For years, I believed my family was built on hard work, honesty, and love.
Now every foundation beneath me felt cracked.
“Tell me everything.””
My mother looked away.
“Claire…”
“No.””
My voice was quiet, but firm.
“I need the truth.””
She closed her eyes.
“Twenty years ago, before you were old enough to understand business, your father had a partner.””
“Richard?””
She shook her head.
“No. Someone else.””
I waited.
“Marcus’s father.””
The name hit me harder than I expected.
“His father?””
My mother nodded.
“William Reid.””
I remembered hearing the name once or twice when I was younger.
A man who disappeared from the business world.
A man people rarely mentioned.
“What happened?””
My mother took a deep breath.
“Your father and William built Bennett-Reid Development together. They were partners.””
I looked at the document.
“Then why is Bennett Properties only our name?””
Her eyes filled with regret.
“Because something happened.””
“What?””
My mother hesitated.
“Your father discovered William had been hiding financial problems.””
“So he betrayed Dad?””
“No.””
Her answer surprised me.
“William was trying to save the company. He made risky choices because he believed he could fix everything.””
I listened carefully.
“Your father found out. Instead of working with William to solve it, he removed him.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
My mother looked at me.
“He used legal loopholes to take control.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did he steal the company?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
I looked away.
All my life, I thought my father was a man who built something from nothing.
Now I wondered if he had built it by stepping on someone else.
“But Marcus…”
My mother nodded.
“Marcus was young. His family lost everything.””
“Then he came after me because of revenge.””
“Yes.””
The word felt heavy.
“But the money was part of it too.””
I closed my eyes.
So Marcus had lied.
But maybe he wasn’t lying about everything.
Maybe there was a reason behind his hatred.
Maybe I was just the easiest target.
My phone rang.
Jordan.
I answered.
“Claire, where are you?””
“With my mother.””
A pause.
“Good. You need to hear this.””
“What?””
“We found another file.””
My mother looked at me.
“About what?””
Jordan continued.
“About Marcus.””
I stood.
“Where?””
“Your father’s old office.””
Thirty minutes later, I stood inside the room my father rarely allowed anyone to enter.
Jordan placed a folder on the desk.
“This was hidden behind a false panel.””
I opened it.
Inside were old photographs.
Letters.
Documents.
The first page showed a lawsuit.
William Reid versus Thomas Bennett.
I read the details.
My father had won.
But something felt wrong.
“Jordan.””
“Yes?””
“Why would my father keep this?””
He looked at the papers.
“Because he knew someone would eventually find it.””
I turned the page.
A handwritten note fell out.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
One sentence.
“I know what happened. I know who was responsible.””
Below it was a name.
William Reid.
My breath caught.
“He wrote this before he disappeared.””
Jordan nodded.
“And there’s more.””
He pointed to the bottom.
A date.
The same week William Reid vanished from public life.
I looked at him.
“Disappeared?””
Jordan hesitated.
“Yes.””
“What happened to him?””
Nobody answered.
Then the office door opened.
My father walked in.
His face changed when he saw the documents.
“Where did you find those?””
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
He didn’t speak.
“Dad.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I made mistakes.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He sat down slowly.
“I thought I was protecting my family.””
“By destroying someone else’s?””
The words hurt him.
But I needed to say them.
My father looked at the floor.
“I didn’t know what Richard and David would do with the information.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at me.
“William Reid didn’t disappear because he lost the company.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then why?””
My father’s voice dropped.
“Because someone wanted him gone.””
The room became silent.
Jordan looked at the documents again.
“Who?””
My father stared at the old papers.
Then whispered:
“I spent twenty years trying to find out.””
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From Marcus.
I opened it.
One sentence.
“You finally know why I came into your life.””
May you like
Then another message appeared.
“You still don’t know who ordered it.””
