Chapter 10: The Secret I Buried
My father’s question stayed between us.
*Why did you really leave college?*
For years, I had avoided answering it.
Not because I was ashamed.
Because I didn’t want anyone to worry.
Especially him.
I looked down at the table.
“Why does Denise know about that?””
My father didn’t answer.
That scared me.
“Dad?””
He sighed.
“I don’t know.””
I leaned back.
The whole situation felt impossible.
Denise had spent a year taking money from me.
She had hidden accounts.
She had worked with Victor.
She had filed for divorce.
And now she was bringing up something from my past.
Something she had no reason to know.
Unless…
Unless she had been watching me long before I realized it.
“I didn’t leave college because I wanted to,” I finally said.
My father stayed quiet.
I took a deep breath.
“My senior year, I lost my scholarship.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
I nodded.
“I didn’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because you were already struggling after Mom died. You were working extra shifts. I didn’t want to add another problem.””
My father looked hurt.
“Marcus…”
“I made mistakes.””
I stared at my hands.
“I was working nights, taking classes, and trying to handle everything alone. My grades dropped. I lost the scholarship.””
My father’s voice softened.
“Why didn’t you come to me?””
“Because I thought you would be disappointed.””
He shook his head.
“Never.””
I looked away.
“I knew you were proud of me. I didn’t want you to see me failing.””
The room became quiet.
Then my father asked:
“How does Denise know?””
I didn’t know.
But then I remembered something.
A conversation from months earlier.
A conversation I had forgotten.
It was shortly after moving back home.
Denise had been standing in the kitchen while I sorted mail.
She saw a letter from my old university.
She had asked:
“Everything okay with your school records?””
I told her:
“Yeah. Just old paperwork.””
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
Now it felt different.
“She saw something,” I said.
My father looked confused.
“What?””
“She may have found my old records.””
He stood up.
“Why would she use that against you?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
Control.
People like Denise collected information.
Not to help.
To use later.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
*Victor knows about the college situation too. He used it when building the trust documents.*
My blood went cold.
I showed my father.
He read it twice.
“How does this person know everything?””
“I don’t know.””
“We need to find out.””
The next morning, we met with Thomas again.
This time, we brought every message.
Every document.
Thomas read through everything carefully.
Finally, he removed his glasses.
“I think I know who has been contacting you.””
My father leaned forward.
“Who?””
Thomas hesitated.
“A former employee at my office.””
“Why would they know all this?””
“Because they helped prepare some of the documents Denise brought in.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“Her name is Rachel.””
“Where is she now?””
“She left six months ago.””
My father frowned.
“Why?””
Thomas looked down.
“Because she found something wrong.””
“What?””
Thomas opened a file.
“She discovered several documents had been altered.””
My father’s face hardened.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I didn’t know they were connected to Denise.””
“Until now.””
Thomas nodded.
Rachel wasn’t just a random person.
She was the missing piece.
The person who had seen the beginning of the plan.
Before we left, Thomas gave us an address.
“She may have proof.””
That evening, my father and I drove across town.
Neither of us spoke much.
When we arrived, the house looked empty.
The lights were off.
My father knocked.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
Then he noticed something.
A piece of paper taped to the door.
My father pulled it down.
It was a note.
Three words were written on it.
*Don’t trust Victor.*
My father looked at me.
Then we heard footsteps behind us.
A woman’s voice said:
“You shouldn’t have come here.””
We turned.
A woman stood at the end of the driveway.
She looked nervous.
Terrified.
“Are you Rachel?”” my father asked.
She looked at him.
Then at me.
“Yes.””
She took a step closer.
“But if Victor knows you’re here…”
She stopped.
Her face changed.
“Wait.””
“What?””
She stared at me.
“You’re Marcus?””
I nodded.
Rachel looked shocked.
“Then you need to know something.””
My father stepped forward.
“What?””
Rachel swallowed.
“The money Denise took from your son wasn’t the real plan.””
A pause.
“She was testing how much control she had.””
My stomach tightened.
“What was the real plan?””
Rachel looked directly at me.
“To take everything your father owns…”
May you like
She lowered her voice.
“…and make you inherit nothing.””
